As Casper Ruud gears up for his showdown against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Barcelona final, the Norwegian tennis star reveals a shift in his approach, aiming to overcome previous final losses and clinch the title.
With three final appearances already this year, Ruud acknowledges the hunger that comes from falling short in those decisive matches. Reflecting on his mindset, he explains, “Those 3 finals losses this year have been making me hungrier. I’m gonna dream about it tonight.”
Ruud recognizes the importance of maintaining a relaxed demeanor on the court, highlighting the need to avoid placing excessive pressure on himself. He admits that in previous matches, he may have allowed thoughts of the final’s significance to affect his performance. However, he emphasizes his intention to stay focused and composed, stating, “I play my best when I’m cool and don’t think too much about it out there.”
Acknowledging the danger of overthinking, Ruud aims to approach the final with a clear and focused mindset. He emphasizes the importance of playing instinctively and not allowing the magnitude of the occasion to overshadow his performance. “If you think too much and think ‘I’m playing for the final, I’m playing for this, I’m playing for that…,’ it’s easy to fall into this kind of mindset,” he says.
Ruud’s strategy for the final revolves around playing freely and without undue pressure. He aims to deliver another strong performance in Barcelona before shifting his focus to upcoming tournaments. “Just gonna try to play kind of… not gonna say ‘brainless,’ but just not trying too much about what’s at stake tomorrow,” he explains.
As Ruud prepares to face Tsitsipas in the Barcelona final, his introspective approach underscores his determination to learn from past experiences and seize the opportunity for victory. With a renewed mindset and hunger for success, Ruud looks to write a different narrative in this final and potentially clinch the title before moving on to future challenges in Madrid.
Ruud in Barcelona, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently the world no.6, the Norwegian has achieved a compiled 28-7 win-loss record in 2024. Ruud is currently having a run in Barcelona where he toppled the world no.110 Alexandre Muller 6-3 6-4, the world no.33 Jordan Thompson 6-1 6-4, the world no.40 Matteo Arnaldi 6-4 6-3 and the world no.30 Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-66 6-4.
Casper Ruud will compete against the world no.7 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final on Sunday at 4:00 pm on PISTA RAFA NADAL. Their record is 3-2 for Tsitsipas.
Ruud was the finalist 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)
Ruud is scheduled to play next in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 22nd of April.
Tsitsipas in Barcelona, ranking, and results in 2024
At the moment ranked no.7, the Greek has a composed 21-6 record in 2024. Stefanos is currently competing in Barcelona where he overcame the world no.43 Sebastian Ofner 6-4 7-5, the world no.72 Roberto Carballes Baena 7-5 6-3, the world no.53 Facundo Diaz Acosta 4-6 6-3 7-68 and the world no.59 Dusan Lajovic 5-7 6-4 6-2.
Stefanos Tsitsipas will play the world no.6 Casper Ruud in the final on Sunday at 4:00 pm on PISTA RAFA NADAL. Their current record is 3-2 for Tsitsipas.
The Greek has won 1 title in 2024 in Monte-Carlo.
Stefanos won 12 titles in his career: 1 on hard courts, 5 on clay courts, 5 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Tsitsipas will compete next in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 22nd of April.
Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas squared off 5 times. Their current record is 3-2 for Tsitsipas. Previously, the last time they squared off, Stefanos Tsitsipas won 6-1 6-4 in the final in Monte-Carlo (Monte) on the 14th of April 2024.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas |
| Embed from Getty Images |
