Home » When did Casper Ruud first believe he might be a top player?

The Rome Masters semifinal appearance Casper Ruud, 23, made in 2020 provided him the assurance and conviction that he could be a top player on the ATP Tour. After the pandemic break, the 2020 season started, as Ruud advanced to his first Masters semifinal on Rome’s clay courts.

Ruud put up a strong fight against Novak Djokovic in his first Masters semifinal, but the now 21-time Grand Slam champion prevailed 7-5 6-3. Ruud has since won eight ATP championships, advanced to a Grand Slam final, and into the top five.

“When we returned from the COVID break in 2020 and I made it to my first ATP 1000 semifinal in Rome, everything kind of started for me. For me, it was a significant outcome in a significant event. On Tennis Channel’s “Credentialed,” Ruud remarked, “I believe after then, I just had more self-belief that I kind of belonged there, playing big matches and doing well in the big events.”

On winning his first Grand Slam match, Ruud

At the last French Open, Ruud, one of the top clay-court players, advanced to his maiden Grand Slam final. Ruud lost in straight sets in his maiden Grand Slam final to Rafael Nadal, who won the French Open for a record-tying 14th time by defeating the Norwegian 6-3 6-3 6-0.

Although Ruud may not have won his maiden Grand Slam championship at the French Open, he is sure that he will in the future. “Till Roland Garros, I hadn’t achieved a really, very significant result in a Slam. That increased my self-belief and confidence, in a sense, and made me more hopeful that I can play in more finals and rediscover my rhythm at the highest level in the world “Ruud thought.

Ruud is taking part in the Montreal Masters this week. The fourth seeded player in the competition, Ruud, receives a bye in the opening round.