Carlos Alcaraz v Casper Ruud Betting Tips [4 April 2022]

We're guaranteed a first time winner of a Masters 1000 event on Sunday. Sixth seeded Casper Ruud takes on the 14th seed Carlos Alcarez. Ruud has won seven ATP titles  but all have been at the 250 series level. This is his first Masters final and he's bidding to win his second title of the year. He's already had a clay court success in Buenos Aries but is now showing top level performances on hard courts too. Ruud has only won one hard court ATP title, that was in San Diego last year. The Norwegian had never even won a match in this tournament until this year. He's made up for that with victories over Henri Laakonen and then three seeds in a row, namely Alexander Bublik (30th), Cameron Norrie (10th) and second seeded Alexander Zverev. He faced unseeded opposition in his semi-final with a straight sets win over Francisco Cerundolo.

Carlos Alcaraz began this tournament ranked 16th but is up to 12th in the live rankings. He was down at 132nd this time last year but has been swiftly climbing the rankings. Only Nadal and Medvedev have earned more ranking points than him in 2022. A win in this final will take him up to second in the ATP Race. He's also won one tournament this year with success in a clay court event held in Rio de Janiero. Like his opponent, he's also showing that he's not just a threat on clay courts. Alcaraz reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells, being beaten by Rafa Nadal. His form has continued in Miami and he's now won 15 of his last 16 matches with all but two of the last 13 being won in straight sets. The Spaniard has beaten Marton Fucsovics, Marin Cilic (the 21st seed), third seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, Miomir Kecmanovic (the only player to take a set off him) and in the last four, he knocked out defending champion Hubert Hurkacz. He's had one previous match against Ruud and won that on clay last year. Go for him to continue his top form and win this final.