Casper the flawless frontrunner: Ruud now 20-0 this year after winning the first set

Would it be Casper the friendly frontrunner, or would he technically be an unfriendly frontrunner?

Either way, he’s been a flawless frontrunner so far this year, and with his 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Jack Draper in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday night, Casper Ruud is now an incredible 20-0 this year after winning the first set.

It’s the best record from a set up on the men's tour in 2025.

In terms of undefeated records after winning the first set this year, it’s by far the best—the next-best one actually goes to his opponent in the final in the Spanish capital, Draper, who’s 15-0.

Americans Tommy Paul and Brandon Nakashma are next at 13-0.

Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur have more wins from a set up this year, but both have losses—Alcaraz is 21-2, falling to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open and David Goffin in Miami, while De Minaur is 21-1, coming within two points of winning in the only loss, a 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) nail-biter against Lorenzo Musetti in Monte Carlo.

And unlike in Madrid on Sunday, usually when Ruud wins the first set this year, he closes the match out in straight sets—that's been the case in 15 of the 20 wins in that 20-0 record from a set up.

The five that got complicated are all in bold below.

RUUD AFTER WINNING FIRST SET THIS YEAR: 20-0

• d. Machac in United Cup RR, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4
• d. Hurkacz in United Cup RR, 7-5, 6-3
• d. Munar in Australian Open 1st Rd, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
• d. Navone in Davis Cup RR, 6-3, 6-3
• d. Etcheverry in Davis Cup RR, 6-3, 6-3
• d. Duckworth in Dallas 1st Rd, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
• d. Mmoh in Dallas 2nd Rd, 6-1, 6-4
• d. Nishioka in Dallas QFs, 7-5, 3-2 ret.
• d. Munar in Dallas SFs, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6
• d. Rinderknech in Acapulco 1st Rd, 6-4, 6-3
• d. Tabilo in Miami 3rd Rd, 6-4, 7-6
• d. Bautista Agut in Monte Carlo 2nd Rd, 6-2, 6-1
• d. Galan in Barcelona 1st Rd, 6-4, 6-3
• d. Medjedovic in Barcelona 2nd Rd, 7-5, 7-5
• d. Rinderknech in Madrid 2nd Rd, 6-3, 6-4
• d. Korda in Madrid 3rd Rd, 6-3, 6-3
• d. Fritz in Madrid 4th Rd, 7-5, 6-4
• d. Medvedev in Madrid QFs, 6-3, 7-5
• d. Cerundolo in Madrid SFs, 6-4, 7-5
• d. Draper in Madrid F, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4

So, winning the first set against Ruud could be key this year—he's 1-6 after losing the first set, the one comeback coming against Miomir Kecmanovic in his opening match in Miami, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.