- It was the best start I've had in a match, but I got a little nervous at the end of the second set because it almost went too well.
It felt like I was walking on water.
I was able to win the set and finally the match after a tough third set, says Ruud from the court in Eurosport's broadcast.
After being outmatched in the first two sets, Berrettini came back in the third and broke to 2-0 and looked in control but Ruud broke back and it was decided in a tiebreak.
Ruud progressed to 6-3 and three straight match points.
He decided on the second and won the tiebreak 7-4.
- Everything he touched in the first set and well into the second turned into gold, says expert Mats Wilander.
Ruud is one of several players who could end up as the new world number one depending on the outcome after the tournament in New York.
Last spring, Ruud went to the final of the French Open on his favorite surface, clay, but had nothing against Rafael Nadal, who won his 14th title at Roland Garros.