Casper Ruud further asserted himself as a claycourt specialist by clinching the 2022 Swiss Open title in Gstaad with a thrilling victory over Matteo Berrettini on Sunday. The Norwegian youngster, for whom the 2022 season has already proved to be the best of his professional career, left tennis fans in awe by winning his eighth ATP title on clay.Of the nine ATP titles Ruud has won at the young age of 23, the fact that eight have come on the same surface (all ATP 250s) serves as a glowing testament to his claycourt prowess. After going a set down against the Italian, Ruud faced two break points in the third game of the second set and looked on the verge of defeat, but stormed back to win 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 and get his hands on the silverware.The Swiss Open is his third title in 2022, a season that has also seen him reach the finals of the French Open and the Miami Open. His two other titles came in Buenos Aires and Geneva, both claycourt tournaments.Ruud's Swiss Open title run drew varied reactions from tennis fans, who applauded the Norwegian's impressive win on Sunday for the most part."Ruud can play with one eye closed on clay and still lift the trophy," one fan wrote on Twitter.Abhinav Mishra@AMabhinavmishra@josemorgado Ruud can play with one eye closed on clay and still lift the trophy@josemorgado Ruud can play with one eye closed on clay and still lift the trophyB I G L O U I E 🫵🏾👱🏾‍♂️@LouieDi13ATP 250 lord twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoCasper Ruud beats Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to defend his Gstaad title. Great match 9th career ATP title at 23yo, 8 of them ATP 250s on clay.507Casper Ruud beats Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to defend his Gstaad title. Great match 9th career ATP title at 23yo, 8 of them ATP 250s on clay.ATP 250 lord🔐 twitter.com/josemorgado/st…While Carlos Alcaraz has shown his claycourt skills this season and Rafael Nadal's legacy on the surface is well known, Casper Ruud has cemented his name as among the very best on clay at the moment. The next step for him, as some opined, is to prove himself on other surfaces as well, with the upcoming North American hardcourt swing serving as a great opportunity."That's impressive Casper Ruud only 23 now has nine ATP singles titles. This is good. The next step for Casper is to win a title ot titles above the 250 level. He can do it. His winning record in finals shows his ability to handle pressure," another fan expressed.OrvilleLloydDouglas🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈@OrvilleLloyd@TennisTV @CasperRuud98 That's impressive Casper only 23 now has nine ATP singles titles. This is good. The next step for Casper is to win a title ot titles above the 250 level. He can do it. His winning record in finals shows his ability to handle pressure.@TennisTV @CasperRuud98 That's impressive Casper only 23 now has nine ATP singles titles. This is good. The next step for Casper is to win a title ot titles above the 250 level. He can do it. His winning record in finals shows his ability to handle pressure.Here are some more reactions from tennis fans on social media after Casper Ruud successfully defended his Swiss Open title:Maria Panova@notsleeeping@josemorgado Crazy amount of 250 titles. He was in the final in Paris and Miami this yearSolid top 10 player9@josemorgado Crazy amount of 250 titles. He was in the final in Paris and Miami this yearSolid top 10 playerSwish@ZwxshPeople getting mad at him winning 250s, is he just not supposed to play?He's already proved he can compete for bigger titles too. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoCasper Ruud beats Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to defend his Gstaad title. Great match 9th career ATP title at 23yo, 8 of them ATP 250s on clay.290Casper Ruud beats Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to defend his Gstaad title. Great match 9th career ATP title at 23yo, 8 of them ATP 250s on clay.People getting mad at him winning 250s, is he just not supposed to play?He's already proved he can compete for bigger titles too. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…Yokeshwaran@yogesh_gunnersU can't beat the Rafans in the clay courts. They are build for it. Way to go man @CasperRuud98 twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…Tennis TV@TennisTVCasper’s Back. Back Again Returning to Gstaad, @CasperRuud98 successfully defends his title with a gritty 4-6 7-6 6-2 win over Berrettini!#SwissOpenGstaad1495154Casper’s Back. Back Again 🏆Returning to Gstaad, @CasperRuud98 successfully defends his title with a gritty 4-6 7-6 6-2 win over Berrettini!#SwissOpenGstaad https://t.co/l6syPGCPYOU can't beat the Rafans in the clay courts. They are build for it. Way to go man @CasperRuud98 ❤️❤️❤️ twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…The Happy One@kavyasastraPeople who take jibes at Casper for "vulturing" lack perspective about how difficult it is to win even ONE match on the Tour, let alone on its physically and tactically most demanding surface.Casper is a wonderful talent. Appreciate him for what he brings to the sport. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoCasper Ruud beats Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to defend his Gstaad title. Great match 9th career ATP title at 23yo, 8 of them ATP 250s on clay.93Casper Ruud beats Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to defend his Gstaad title. Great match 9th career ATP title at 23yo, 8 of them ATP 250s on clay.People who take jibes at Casper for "vulturing" lack perspective about how difficult it is to win even ONE match on the Tour, let alone on its physically and tactically most demanding surface.Casper is a wonderful talent. Appreciate him for what he brings to the sport. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…Chris Goldsmith@TheTennisTalkerNot a bad season for Casper Ruud First Grand Slam Final First Masters 1000 hard court Final 3 ATP Titles Only just coming into August so plenty more still to win141Not a bad season for Casper Ruud 🇳🇴 First Grand Slam Final First Masters 1000 hard court Final 3 ATP Titles Only just coming into August so plenty more still to winAl Bendy@al_bendy@josemorgado The new nadal@josemorgado The new nadalCasper Ruud withdraws from Generali Open in Kitzbuhel2022 French Open - Day FifteenAfter a grueling Swiss Open campaign, World No. 5 Casper Ruud has withdrawn from the Generali Open in Kitzbuhel, another ATP250 claycourt event where he is the defending champion. Ruud won the event in 2021, one of his five titles last season and the fifth of his career. The Norwegian's withdrawal confirmed the entry of two lucky losers in the main draw for the tournament in Austria.José Morgado@josemorgadoCasper Ruud won't defend his title in Kitzbuhel.Two lucky losers confirmed. twitter.com/EntryLists/sta…Entry List Updates@EntryListsKitzbuehel update:OUT: RuudIN: Lucky Loser684Kitzbuehel update:OUT: RuudIN: Lucky LoserCasper Ruud won't defend his title in Kitzbuhel.Two lucky losers confirmed. twitter.com/EntryLists/sta…Meanwhile, Ruud improved his tour-level win/loss record in Switzerland to 16-0, meaning he is still unbeaten in ATP tournaments in the country with title runs in the last two editions of both the Swiss Open and the Geneva Open. Ruud reflected on his success in those tournaments, expressing how the legacy of Swiss greats Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka gives him an extra dose of inspiration to perform well in their homeland.“I think Switzerland is a country with a lot of history now in tennis, winning a lot of Grand Slams with Roger [Federer] and Stan [Wawrinka] the last 18 or 19 years. So it’s been an inspiration to everyone around the world, including myself, that they are able to come from a small country, sort of like Norway. Everything about Switzerland reminds me a little bit about Norway," Casper Ruud said in his on-court interview.Ruud will now aim to have a strong hardcourt season and turn around his fortunes at the US Open, where he lost in the second round last year.