Ruud bags maiden ATP title at Argentina Open

Casper Ruud became the first Norwegian to win an ATP title on Sunday after seeing off Pedro Sousa in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 in the final at Buenos Aires.

World number 45 Ruud made short work of Sousa, who is ranked 145th, with the 21-year-old seeing off his opponent in little more than an hour.

Ruud didn't face a break point in his nine service games and broke his Portuguese opponent three times.

Eighth-seeded Ruud reached the final in Buenos Aires after beating Argentine Juan Ignácio Londero in the semi-finals.

The 31-year-old Sousa, ranked 145th, had a walkover in his semi-final against top-seeded Diego Schwartzman.

The win should move Ruud up to 34th in the ATP world rankings, which will be his best ever placing.

Souza , who struggled in the first set due to a left foot injury, predicted Ruud had won "the first of many titles."

The Norwegian thanked his team and also Sousa. "I have practiced with them over the last three years," Ruud said.

Ruud is the youngest winner of the tournament in its 20-year history.

- TIMES/AFP/AP