Blissful to be again in Turin, Ruud believes ‘something can occur’
The Norwegian opens up about group rivals and his season forward of the Nitto ATP Finals
November 08, 2024
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Casper Ruud is ready for his third look on the Nitto ATP Finals.
By ATP Workers
After lacking the reduce in 2023, Casper Ruud is ready to return to the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals. The 25-year-old, who made the semi-finals in 2021, and ultimate in 2022 is worked up to see how issues unfold in Turin.
“Something can occur, [when] you may have one of the best gamers on the earth,” mentioned Ruud, chatting with ATP Media earlier than the motion begins on Sunday.
Set for his third look on the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, Ruud appreciates the chance to go head-to-head with the perfect in Turin. The No. 6 Ruud, positioned within the John Newcombe Group, alongside No. 2 Alexander Zverev, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, and No. 8 Andrey Rublev, mirrored on his opponents.
“I’m going to see an in kind participant, [has had an] unimaginable 12 months,” mentioned Ruud, opening up about Zverev, who lately received his seventh ATP Masters 1000 title on the Rolex Paris Masters and climbed to the No. 2 spot within the PIF ATP Rankings. “He’s going to be filled with confidence, simply got here from Paris victory. I’m going to do my greatest to in some way cease him.
“[He has a] nice serve, stunning backhand. When he’s on additionally together with his forehand, it’s actually robust to play him. Since you really feel like you’re getting shot at from each [the] forehand and the backhand. [I will] attempt to neutralise his recreation as a lot as I can, however it’s going to be troublesome.”
The Norwegian will kickstart his marketing campaign towards Alcaraz on Monday within the day session. Alcaraz, who has received 4 titles this season, leads the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head collection 4-0.
“His profession [is] already near legendary,” mentioned Ruud of Alcaraz. “I like watching him play, he’s so nice for the game. I don’t essentially at all times love taking part in him as a result of [he is] actually robust. It usually comes all the way down to enjoyable factors. He’s so electrical, he can hit any shot on the earth.”
Discussing his good buddy Rublev, Ruud mentioned he appears to be like as much as the 27-year-old.
“He simply rips the ball from either side. He’s such a sort particular person,” he mentioned. “I appeared as much as him as a result of he’s a 12 months older than me and he received to the Prime 10 and began successful huge tournaments means earlier than I did.”
A strong begin to the season propelled Ruud to the third spot within the PIF ATP Dwell Race to Turin by the tip of Roland Garros in June, the place he reached the semi-finals. Earlier within the 12 months, the 25-year-old received the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and Gonet Geneva Open, and completed finalist on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
On the finish of Roland Garros, the 12-time tour-level titlist caught a parasite that hampered his efficiency for the subsequent few weeks. Struggling to regain his regular power ranges post-illness and having collected fewer factors in the remainder of the season, he dropped to the seventh spot.
“I’m a bit disillusioned that I used to be not in a position to stick with it as a result of I used to be in an excellent place to complete even larger,” he mentioned. However [it] didn’t occur. Had a little bit of bother in summer season and fall. But it surely’s okay. We’re right here, and that’s the most essential factor.”
