Casper Ruud talked about how excited he was with Rafael Nadal’s Barcelona Open campaign and how he felt that the Spaniard and Novak Djokovic would both soon retire from tennis.
In the first round of the Barcelona Open, Nadal made an impressive return to the circuit by defeating Flavio Cobolli of Italy 6-2, 6-3, saving four break points. This was his first tour appearance since January’s Brisbane International.
Ruud, who has not yet begun his trip to Barcelona, spoke with the ATP recently about the excitement surrounding the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s comeback.
He expressed his thoughts about it and said: “Yes, really exciting. You know, I might sound like I’m like a fanboy but that’s okay I mean his absence from the tour is you notice it, and it’s always fun when he shows up.”
Then, Ruud discussed the influence that players like Nadal, Djokovic, and Roger Federer had on other players and expressed regret for the Spaniard and Serb who were approaching the end of their respective careers.
Ruud further said: “You know him, Roger, Novak, they have a huge influence on the tour and whenever they’re absent, it’s different, obviously, it is an opportunity for every other player but now, at this point of their careers with Rafa, Roger has already retired, but it’s getting closer to the end for them unfortunately and they will be so missed.”
Casper Ruud
“You know, might sound like I’m like a fanboy, but you know, that’s okay. I mean his absence from the tour is not a, you know, you notice it, and it’s always fun when he shows up. You know him, Roger, and Novak, they have a huge influence on the tour.”
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Nadal in Barcelona, ranking, and results in 2024
Now ranked no.644, Rafael achieved an overall 3-1 record in 2024. Nadal is currently playing in Barcelona where he toppled the world no.62 Flavio Cobolli 6-2 6-3.
Rafael Nadal will play the world no.11 Alex De Minaur in the 2nd round on Wednesday at 4:00 pm on PISTA RAFA NADAL. Their current head to head is 3-1 for Nadal.
Rafael won 92 titles in his career: 24 on hard courts, 63 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) on the 24th of April and Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia) on the 8th of May.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
LWWWLWLWWW Ranked no.1, Djokovic played his last match on the 13th of April when he lost to world no.6 Casper Ruud 6-4 1-6 6-4 in the semifinal in Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (draw).
During this season Novak has managed to achieve an overall 11-4 record. Novak Djokovic’s most significant accomplishment of the current year was reaching the semifinal at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic squared off 59 times. Their current head to head is 30-29 for Djokovic. Before, the last time they fought against each other, Rafael Nadal won 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(4) in the quarter in Paris (French Open) in May 2022.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
Ruud in Barcelona, ranking, and results in 2024
Now ranked no.6, Ruud owns an overall 25-7 match record in 2024. Casper is currently having a run in Barcelona where he ousted the world no.110 Alexandre Muller 6-3 6-4.
Casper Ruud will face the world no.33 Jordan Thompson in the 3rd round. Their current record is 3-2 for Thompson.
Ruud reached the final in Los Cabos (Mifel Tennis Open), in Acapulco (Abierto Mexicano Telcel) and in Monte-Carlo (Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters).
Casper won 10 titles in his career: 1 on hard courts and 9 on clay courts. (See the list of his titles)
