Scouting Report: Ruud Returns To Bastad, Felix Headlines Newport

The action will take place on two continents and on two different surfaces this week on the ATP Tour, with established stars competing on clay at the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden, and on grass at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport, Rhode Island, United States.

Casper Ruud headlines the field in Bastad as he aims to retain his title, while Felix Auger-Aliassime and Andy Murray are among those competing in Newport.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at each ATP 250 event.

View Draws: Bastad | Newport

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FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN BASTAD
1) Reigning Champion Ruud: Casper Ruud will lead the field in Bastad as he aims to retain his title at the ATP 250 event. The Norwegian, who did not drop a set en route to the trophy in 2021, completed a clay-court hat-trick last July with his trophy success in Bastad followed by triumphs in Gstaad and Kitzbühel. The 23-year-old will face Francisco Cerundolo or a qualifier in his opening match.

2) Rublev Debut: Andrey Rublev arrives in Sweden aiming to capture his fourth crown of the season and second on clay, having soared to the title in Belgrade in May. The second seed holds a 29-9 record on the season, while he is 11-4 on clay. Rublev will face 2021 finalist Federico Coria or a qualifier first up on his debut in Bastad.

3) Can Thiem Build Momentum? The Austrian captured his first victory at any level for 14 months last week when he defeated countryman Filip Misolic at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Salzburg. The 28-year-old, who has struggled with injuries over the past year, will look to build on that victory and try and clinch his first tour-level win since May 2021 when he takes on Emil Ruusuvuori in the first round. This is the former World No. 3’s Bastad debut.

4) Schwartzman & Spaniards Targeting Deep Runs: Diego Schwartzman, Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut will look to use their experience when they compete on the clay in Bastad. The trio, who have won 21 tour-level titles between them, have all played at the ATP 250 event before, with Schwartzman reaching the quarter-finals in 2017 and Carreno Busta in 2014 and 2018.

The Argentine Schwartzman begins against Daniel Altmaier or Elias Ymer and Carreno Busta faces former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, who enjoyed a run to the third round in Rome in May. Bautista Agut plays Ruusuvuori or Thiem.

5) Rune & Musetti Aiming For More Clay Success: #NextGenATP Dane Holger Rune has enjoyed a standout season, climbing to a career-high No. 29 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, while he clinched his maiden tour-level title on clay in Munich in April. The 19-year-old, who is third in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Milan, is making his second appearance in Bastad after reaching the second round last year. The Dane will open against a qualifier.

#NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti holds a 15-5 record on clay across all levels in 2022, reaching the third round at ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo and Madrid, before he lifted an ATP Challenger Tour title in Forli. The 20-year-old will play Laslo Djere in the first round.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN NEWPORT
1) Felix Top Seed: Canadian Auger-Aliassime will make his debut at the ATP 250 grass-court event in Newport after accepting a wild card. The 21-year-old will be aiming to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon as he looks to win his second tour-level title of the season. The top seed will face Jason Kubler or Jordan Thompson in his first match. 

World No. 9 Auger-Aliassime is the first Top 10 player to compete in Newport in the tournament’s 46-year history.

2) Murray Receives Wild Card: After 16 years, Murray will compete in Rhode Island again after receiving a wild card from the tournament. The 35-year-old, who advanced to the semi-finals in Newport in 2006 — his last appearance at the tournament — enjoyed a run to the final on grass in Stuttgart last month, before he fell in the second round at Wimbledon.

The Scot will look to make a winning start in the United States when he plays American Sam Querrey in the first round.

3) Four-Time Champion Isner: Big-serving American John Isner holds fond memories in Newport, having lifted the trophy four times. The 37-year-old, whose last victory came in 2019, made more history at Wimbledon earlier this month, breaking Ivo Karlovic’s aces record during his match against Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon. The second seed will play Peter Gojowczyk or Ugo Humbert in his opening match.

4) Bublik Strong Newport Record: Third seed Alexander Bublik will make his third appearance in Newport, having advanced to the final in 2019 and the last four in 2021. The 25-year-old, who is 6-2 at the event, holds a 6-4 record on grass this season, with his best result a run to the quarter-finals in Eastbourne. Bublik will begin against Radu Albot or Jack Sock.

5) Klaasen/Melo Top Seeds: Raven Klaasen and Marcelo Melo are the top seeds in the doubles draw as they aim to win their third title together, and their first since 2015. The South African-Brazilian tandem will face competition from second seeds Hans Hach Verdugo and Hunter Reese and third seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow. The fourth seeds are Will Blumberg, who lifted the trophy with Jack Sock last year, and Steve Johnson.