“People don’t write much about me. I think that’s also because I don’t have the most flashy game and most beautiful winners…” Casper Ruud humbly said after clinching the 2023 Estoril Open. But oh, how far the quiet Norwegian has come! Now 26, Ruud has built an impressive résumé. Finalist at the 2023 French Open and runner-up at the 2022 French Open, US Open, and ATP Finals. Known more for grit than glitz, his steady rise through the ranks has turned heads. And after his stellar heroics at the Madrid Open, he finally got the recognition he once longed for. Now the Aussie legend, Rennae Stubbs has given Ruud a glowing shout-out, just in time for the red-clay showdown at Roland-Garros.
Casper Ruud made history on Sunday by becoming the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 title, defeating Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in a gripping Madrid Open final. The 26-year-old let out a triumphant yell and raised both arms in celebration after sealing victory on his first match point, standing tall on the iconic clay of Caja Mágica.
His breakthrough triumph sends him soaring back into the ATP top 10, as he rises to 7th in Monday’s updated rankings. And while the echoes of his Madrid heroics still ring loud, former WTA doubles top seed Rennae Stubbs doesn’t hold back in praising the Norwegian star.
Huge congratulations to Casper! Wow!! Terrific match. After such a tough year for his standards, this is a statement. French open runner up twice. Look out again for him in Paris.
— Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs) May 4, 2025
Right after the 26-year-old made headlines with his Madrid clay triumph, Rennae Stubbs took to X and wrote, “Huge congratulations to Casper! Wow!! Terrific match. After such a tough year for his standards, this is a statement. French Open runner up twice. Look out again for him in Paris.” But hold on! Why exactly does she call it a tough year for the Norwegian, though?
Tennis, behind the curtain of glamor and global adulation, often hides a grueling mental battle, and the Norwegian Casper Ruud’s 2025 season has been a vivid reflection of that reality. From a second-round exit at the AO to a heartbreaking final loss in Dallas, and a walkover in Mexico that cut short his campaign, the road has been anything but easy. Add early-round disappointments in Miami and Monte Carlo, followed by a tough defeat in Barcelona, and it’s fair to wonder how even the strongest minds persevere! Yet, Ruud stands tall, carrying a quiet resilience that speaks louder than any trophy.
Now, with momentum from a breakthrough clay-court campaign, the Norwegian is preparing to take on Roland-Garros once again. The memories of his 2023 final defeat to Novak Djokovic still linger, but Ruud is looking ahead with purpose. Reflecting on his recent form, he openly shared thoughts about his on-court performance, signaling a hunger that remains undimmed to achieve greatness on red clay.
Casper Ruud opened up about his love for clay season after his stellar performance at the Madrid
Time and time again, Ruud has hovered on the cusp of greatness at the sport’s grandest stages. A two-time Grand Slam finalist, a two-time ATP Masters 1000 runner-up, and a finalist at the Nitto ATP Finals, the Norwegian has repeatedly come close, only to see the title slip through his fingers. But not this time. Not on Sunday at the Mutua Madrid Open!
The 26-year-old finally broke through, defeating Jack Draper in a gripping 3-set battle to capture the biggest title of his career. It was a moment of long-awaited vindication for a player known more for consistency than flashy flair.
Having recently fallen to 15th, his lowest ranking in over a year, Ruud’s Madrid heroics earned him 900 ATP points and a return to the top 10, now sitting at 7th. The win also marked his 13th career ATP title and included a trio of Top 10 victories in a single event for only the 2nd time in his career.
His path to the crown was anything but easy, as he dispatched 4th seed Taylor Fritz, 10th seed Daniil Medvedev, and 6th seed Jack Draper in a week of gritty, top-tier tennis. After his triumph, Ruud offered honest reflections on his performance, noting both his struggles and steady evolution on clay.
“The clay season is, I love it, but it’s not that long. So I lost earlier than I wanted in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, and the tournaments, the weeks, they go on, and if you don’t do well, you kind of feel like, ‘Oh, I need to do well now,” he said.
Later, the 26-year-old also opened up about how last year’s Roland-Garros losses have affected him. “Since Roland Garros last year, I’ve had quite many months of struggling and not many good results, so it’s worth the wait. I think I’ve accepted that I’ve had to, or I took one or two steps back in my game and my feelings on court in order to take two or three steps forward again. Here in Madrid it feels like I’ve taken four steps forward, so that’s a great feeling,” Ruud continued.
As the clay-court season now shifts its focus to the Italian Open, the big question looms: Can Ruud carry this momentum into Rome? The stage is set!
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