Casper Ruud slams Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev for making ‘drama’ regarding tennis balls

Casper Ruud spoke out against players always complaining about tennis balls changing tournament-to-tournament.

Casper Ruud slams Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev for making ‘drama’ regarding tennis balls

Casper Ruud (Image via X)

Frequent changes in tennis balls have become a hot-button issue in the sport lately, with several top players voicing their complaints. However, Casper Ruud has revealed that he’s tired of players making the ball a big issue all the time.

Top players such as Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Iga Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula have, in the recent past, complained about changes in balls. It got worse last year when players began to assert that the increasing number of injuries was directly related to the type of balls being used in different tournaments.

YouTube video

The complaint from players has always been that constant adjustment to a new ball in each tournament strains the body, which can lead to injuries. However, Ruud has been slightly provoked by the issue. In a recent interview with Nothing Major Podcast, the Norwegian responded that his fellow players make an issue about the balls for no reason.

FS Video

You see players complain about the balls all the time. I’m getting so tired of like ‘Oh, I feel my elbow… I feel this, that. I can’t produce power. It suits this player..’ Come on. Just play. For me what’s funny is some players come like 5 days in advance to practice. And I do it myself a lot of the times, unless you’re going from tournament to tournament. Then they come to the 4th round and start complaining about the balls. But it’s been the same balls for the past 9 days. What’s the point of bringing it up now to the umpire?

Casper Ruud said

Meanwhile, Ruud has been having a difficult spell since the Asian swing. He has failed to reach the semifinals of the last four tournaments he has competed in. He will be up against Jordan Thompson in the first round of the Paris Masters.

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Casper Ruud to face Holger Rune in an exhibition match that determines who is the ‘True Viking’

Despite the congested tennis schedule, players still find a lot of joy in playing at exhibition events. Casper Ruud will take on Holger Rune in an exhibition match to determine who is the “True Viking” of the Nordic countries.

Casper Ruud and Holger Rune (via Washington Post)

The event is centered on boosting tennis interest in the region. The match has been announced to take place in Copenhagen on December 3. The two players’ rivalry on the court began mildly but generated a heated show at the 2022 French Open.

During the high-stakes quarterfinals, Rune was noticably unhappy after losing to Ruud in four sets. The tension between the two spilled further after the match with a terse handshake, which Rune later claimed that Ruud shouted “YES!” It is worth noting that Ruud has resigned supreme in their head-to-head record, leading 6-1.

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Both players are currently struggling with their game, but Rune has not performed as expected. The 21-year-old is yet to win any title this season. On the other hand, Ruud has won two titles this season but has not played his best tennis on a hard court.