Ruud dubbed 'biggest bottler in tennis' by tennis fans after crashing out of US Open to Zhizhen Zhang
ATP
Casper Ruud
was caught off guard by Zhang Zhizhen in the second round of the US Open, and
fans reacted to the unexpected upset.
The
Norwegian's early exit in only the second match is one of the surprises in the
men's main draw so far. The US Open tends to bring about the most surprises
among the Grand Slams, and this time, three top-10 players, including Ruud,
have already fallen in the first two rounds.
However,
unlike Rune and Tsitsipas who faced the same situation, Ruud had previously
displayed an impressive performance at Flushing Meadows by reaching the final
in 2022 and losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
The
substantial number of points he had to defend will cause him to drop at least
to world No. 9, as he lost over 1000 points.
His
opponent, Zhang Zhizhen, entered as world No. 67 and although he hasn't
maintained consistent results, he has achieved some significant victories that
have solidified his position within the top 100.
The Chinese
player has defeated notable names this year, including Cameron Norrie, Denis
Shapovalov, Taylor Fritz, and Lorenzo Sonego.
Nevertheless,
Zhang's victory came as a surprise to fans who took to social media to
criticize the Norwegian player's unexpected loss.
"Don't
be surprised that Casper Ruud lost early in New York. Be surprised he found a
few weeks of good form and returned to the Roland Garros final this year,"
one user wrote.
"Casper
Ruud is the biggest bottler in tennis. I still wonder how he’s top 10. Smh,"
"How
Casper Ruud played 3 grand slam finals. He just s**k."
“Another
upset.. There goes the ranking drop! Guess #Ruud is going say re: tennis nobody knows what they’re talking
about (if you’re not a pro player),” some user added.
Here are
some other reactions about Ruud’s lose:
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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