He Rises to the Problem Every time He Must

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday June 4, 2024

Paris – Casper Ruud is aware of a fantastic deal concerning the character and skills of Novak Djokovic, and due to that the Norwegian won’t ever underestimate the restoration powers of his quarterfinal opponent.

The 2-time Roland-Garros finalist says he won’t overthink Djokovic’s present harm standing, or the truth that the 24-time main champion has wanted over 9 hours to get by means of his final two rounds in Paris once they meet within the quarterfinals in what can be a rematch of final 12 months’s last in Paris.

“I do not anticipate him to give up in any respect. I’ve to anticipate him to be recent, prepared and that it may be a tricky match,” Ruud mentioned on Monday after taking out American Taylor Fritz in 4 units.

“I am simply going to anticipate him to be recent, prepared in two days. Not assume an excessive amount of if he performed 9 hours, 12 hours, or 4 hours within the final couple of days. You understand, Novak is Novak. He will be prepared it doesn’t matter what, or at the least he’ll do his greatest to be prepared. Usually he does it very well.”

Ruud says he’ll attempt to use the present scenario to spice up his perception, nevertheless.

“I’ll attempt to assume that I am 25; he is 37. Possibly does not imply an excessive amount of as a result of he is nonetheless in bodily nice form, however he is performed a number of hours greater than me on the way in which right here, and hopefully my matches main as much as it has not been so long as his and I’ll attempt if there’s any chance to reap the benefits of that.”

Novak Second Greatest Clay Courter of All-Time?

Ruud says that Djokovic’s clay-court prowess can’t be underestimated.

“You possibly can positively argue that he is the second-best clay court docket participant of all time,” he mentioned. “I imply, clearly Borg has extra titles right here than him, however Novak was at all times shut, he at all times just about reached the ultimate and ended up shedding to Rafa. And I misplaced to him final 12 months within the last.”

The seventh-seeded Norwegian, who leads all ATP gamers in wins on clay for the reason that begin of 2020, says that Djokovic has all of the instruments to make a well-rounded, unstoppable clay-court participant.

“I believe that he reads the sport unbelievably properly. He is aware of the way to use a dropshot properly. Clearly he strikes nice. So it is powerful to hit winners on him.”

And don’t underestimate the Serbian’s physicality, stamina and sturdiness, Ruud says.

“Bodily he is there. He is robust. He by no means breaks down in a means. You’re feeling generally that he’ll, however he by no means does. I believe he is proven that the final two matches taking part in over 4 hours and looking out type of down and out however coming again.

“I did not see a lot of what occurred at this time, however I heard that he was down and even down a break within the fourth and got here again from there. So he rises to the problem at any time when he must.

I imply, he has all of the pictures. I imply, he does not play as heavy perhaps as Rafa and the intense topspin, however he does not must. He has different qualities which are nearly simply pretty much as good.”