Casper Ruud made history last week, when he finally claimed a greater title than an ATP 250 tournament.
It marked a huge moment for the world number five, who avenged his pitiful Monte-Carlo defeat by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in Barcelona.
Now, the two will have their sights set on the Madrid Open, hoping to enjoy another strong showing ahead of Roland-Garros later next month.
Ruud, however, already has plans to potentially face Tsitsipas again in the coming weeks…
Casper Ruud sends message to Stefanos Tsitsipas after Barcelona Open
Speaking immediately after his win at Barcelona, a historic one for the Norwegian who claimed his first-ever ATP 500 title, his first thought was to crack a joke.
He laughed as he spoke of their earlier meeting, just a week prior, where Tsitsipas had taken the title in the final at Monte-Carlo.
Revenge was sweet for Ruud, who even suggested another meeting might be on the cards in Madrid.
He claimed: ‘A week ago you won. Today I won. Thank you for letting me win this time. It would’ve been tough to have 2 final losses in a row.
‘To your team, well done this week. It wasn’t easy for any of us. But we were in the final again. Hoping we can be in the final of Madrid. Why not?
‘To my own team, we finally got it. Bigger title than before. Thank you so much for this week… to everyone at home watching.’
Could Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas meet again at the Madrid Open?
Tsitsipas and Ruud could definitely meet in Madrid, however, this time it literally cannot be in the final.
Both of them have been pushed into the same half of the draw, and therefore the first time they can possibly meet will be in the semi-final stages.
Given that both are thriving on clay this season, it promises to be an enthralling affair, should they clash for a third time with far less at stake.
And it is their respective ability to seemingly beat anyone at the moment that lends to this suggestion that their reunion feels like an inevitability.
Although, Ruud will have to bypass other big hitters in his draw like the top seed Jannik Sinner, the in-form Grigor Dimitrov and the ever-present Daniil Medvedev.
Tsitsipas, meanwhile, boasts a far easier run, with Holger Rune, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz the men to beat.
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