Casper Ruud reveals a physical discomfort he’s struggling with ahead of the Madrid Open final
Casper Ruud is seeking to become the first Norwegian to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since the introduction of the format in 1990.
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Casper Ruud (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Casper Ruud earned his place in his 25th career final at the Madrid Open after beating Francisco Cerundolo in the semi-finals. The Norwegian has enjoyed a fantastic week in the Spanish capital, producing several stand-out performances. However, he had a minor injury during his win against Cerundolo.
Ruud had arrived at the Madrid Open after a poor run of form on clay. He was unable to reach the Monte Carlo Masters like he did last year. Also, he failed to defend the Barcelona Open title after suffering a harrowing defeat to eventual champion Holger Rune in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, he had also failed to reach the semi-finals since the Dallas Open.
The 14th seed is yet to drop a set in Madrid. He has been outstanding since the beginning of the tournament, beating Sebastian Korda, Taylor Fritz, and Daniil Medvedev en route to the semi-final. During his clash against Cerundolo, he received treatment on his ribs three games into the match.
Despite the pain in his ribs, Ruud went on to save 15 of the 18 break points he faced against his Argentine opponent. With just an hour and 54 minutes, he advanced to his third Masters 1000 final and simultaneously ensured that he would return to the Top 10 of the ATP rankings after leaving the elite group two weeks ago.
He defeated Cerundolo 6-4, 7-5 at the Madrid Open. During his post-match press conference, he revealed that he felt a sharp pain in his ribs, which is a very sensitive area. He added that he hoped it was not serious as he looked forward to being in his best shape in the final.
I felt a pain in the area of the ribs, which is very sensitive. I hope it’s nothing serious; I believe it’s not because at the end of the match, my physiotherapist cracked my back, and it was a relief. I think the painkillers took effect as the match progressed, and I ended up feeling better than at the beginning. I have the feeling that it’s nothing to worry about.
Casper Ruud said via Madrid Open Press
Ruud has won 11 clay titles in his career. Also, he’s one of the most experienced clay players of his generation. However, he’s yet to win a clay Masters 1000 title in his career. He will hope to do that against Jack Draper on Sunday (May 4).
Casper Ruud says winning or losing the Madrid Open final won’t change anything
Casper Ruud is among the very few players in the current gen, who have come close to winning a Grand Slam. The Norwegian has reached a major final on three occasions but has never got over the finish line. His first final was against Rafael Nadal at the French Open in 2022, losing to the tennis great in straight sets.
Apart from a Grand Slam, he has also failed to win a Masters 1000 title. He came close to achieving that at the Monte Carlo Masters last year but lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. He was asked if the Madrid Open final was a good chance to end his big title drought. The 26-year-old said that nothing would change about whether he does win or lose the title.
There are curious situations in the tennis world because last year I reached the final in Monte Carlo after months of playing great tennis, and now I’m in the final here without displaying a good level for some time. It would be ironic to become champion in this context. I don’t know, I don’t think big things have changed this week compared to the last few months, maybe it’s just a matter of luck. I will give everything I have to win, but if I don’t, life goes on, I will still be the same person.
Casper Ruud said
Ruud will face Jack Draper for the first time in his career. Both players have yet to drop a set in the tournament and have been at their absolute best on the court. However, Ruud has more experience playing on clay.
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