Annabel Croft shocked by what Casper Ruud did in the final game of the Madrid Open final to beat Jack Draper

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Casper Ruud has become an ATP Masters 1000 champion for the first time, having beaten Jack Draper in the Madrid Open final.

Ruud labelled Draper ‘incredible’ after their Madrid Open final, in which the former beat the latter 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

Draper left Lorenzo Musetti really impressed after their semi-final, but the Briton could not continue that momentum into the final.

Ruud had not won a set in his previous two Masters 1000 finals, but outlasted Draper after two hours and 29 minutes to clinch the title.

And after recently dropping out of the ATP top 10 rankings, the Norwegian will now climb eight spots to seventh in the world.

Casper Ruud shocks Annabel Croft en route to Madrid Open title

He is now a 13-time ATP champion, with Ruud having left former professional player Annabel Croft shocked during the final game against Draper.

“You don’t get to number two in the world, which he was at one stage in his career, for nothing,” she said on Sky Sports Tennis.

READ MORE: Jack Draper points out what he has seen Rafael Nadal doing on clay during his matches which he’s now trying to copy

“You must be pretty smart. I was expecting way more nerves in that final game and actually it was the opposite.

“He literally stepped up to the line and took his chance. Like Jack said in his speech, he was brave at key moments and that forehand was something to behold.”

Also sharing his verdict was former professional Colin Fleming, who said: “He seems to have a very solid team. His Dad is his coach, but a solid wider team and a very close family.

“They are all there in the box. I am sure that has helped him. This is a guy who has been number two in the world, three Slam finals, two Masters finals.

“You feel like he is slipping, he is outside the top 10 and not achieving the results. That can define you day to day.

“You are sitting there having breakfast and your mind is elsewhere. You are thinking how do I reverse this cycle.

“I am sure there have been some tough moments. So to come here and produce this sort of tennis in many ways makes it more impressive.”

Iga Swiatek messages Casper Ruud after Madrid Open title

Draper has come on leaps and bounds in a short space of time, surging all the way to sixth in the world rankings.

Wins in Vienna and Stuttgart were secured last year, with the British number one winning at Indian Wells this year.

READ MORE: Casper Ruud states what he’s noticed about all the youngsters on the ATP Tour now after big change in tennis in the past five years

He deserves huge praise for his efforts in Madrid, but the 23-year-old was ultimately outdone by 26-year-old Ruud.

The three-time Grand Slam runner-up is a clay-court specialist, with two of those defeats coming on the surface, and incidentally to legendary figures Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

And sharing in his glory is another clay-court superstar, with four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek congratulating Ruud on social media.

Ruud told Swiatek to stay positive after her Madrid Open exit, with the Pole now tagging the Norwegian on her Instagram story with the message: “So so cool. Congrats.”