Casper Ruud reveals ‘main goal’ after ‘challenging’ start to 2023
Casper Ruud has spoken about his ‘goals’ for the rest of the year, after a difficult period following his most successful season in 2022.
Ruud reached a career-high ranking of No.2 last year, after winning three ATP titles and reaching the final of Roland Garros, the US Open, the Miami Open and the ATP Finals.
However, the Norwegian has struggled for form so far in 2023, despite winning a 10th career title in Estoril last month.
CHAMPION!
Top seed Casper Ruud beats Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2, 7-6(3) to win a 10th career title, first in 2023! pic.twitter.com/owXUyoP61s
— Millennium #EstorilOpen (@EstorilOpen) April 9, 2023
Speaking ahead of the Italian Open, where he has reached the semi-final on two occasions, Ruud commented on how expectations have risen for him.
“I knew that this year was going to be a big challenge because the things that I did last year is not maybe going to happen every year you play,” said Ruud. “To reach two Grand Slam finals, obviously the Nitto ATP Finals at the end of the year, it’s not something that I expect to do every year. Obviously I’m trying my best.”
Ruud continued, “The thing is, when you’ve done something before, to reach for example a Grand Slam final, you know that it can happen again because you have been able to do it before, so why not again? I think your expectations are a little bit higher coming into tournaments, which can be dangerous.”
“If it doesn’t go well, you think, What am I doing wrong? What happened? Last year I was able to do this, why can I not do it this year? It can be a little bit challenging.”
Ruud has a large amount of ranking points to defend throughout the rest of the year, and the No.4 has revealed what his ‘main goal’ is.
“I said the main goal this year is just to try to defend some of the tournaments, some points, try to keep myself in the top 10 at the end of the year, is something that will still be my main goal,” revealed Ruud.
“Things will obviously go up and down in one’s career. You won’t be able to perform at your best every single match you play for the rest of your career.”
The 24-year-old added, “For me, I’ve been sort of expecting like a little down period to come at some point in my career. But it’s not fun when you’re in it. You just want to get out of it and try to find your game, try to find your best level.”
Ruud will now play the Masters 1000 event in the Italian capital, with his first match against either Flavio Cobolli or Arthur Rinderknech.
Casper Ruud record in 2023 compared to 2022
With Ruud struggling in the first four months of 2023, we at Tennishead wanted to compare his statistics from last year in relation to this year:
Casper Ruud win-loss record in 2022: 51-22 (70%)
Casper Ruud win-loss record in 2023: 11-9 (55%)
ATP titles in 2022: Buenos Aires, Geneva, Gstaad
ATP titles in 2023: Estoril
Performances in Grand Slams/ATP 1000 events (2022 compared to 2023):
Australian Open – Did not play (2022), lost in the second round (2023)
Indian Wells – Lost in the third round (2022), lost in the second round (2023)
Miami Open – Lost in the final (2022), lost in the third round (2023)
Monte Carlo Masters – Lost in the third round (2022), lost in the third round (2023)
Madrid Open – Lost in the second round (2022), lost in the second round (2023)
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