Casper Ruud, the Norwegian tennis sensation, etched his name in the record books at the 2024 Barcelona Open. The 25-year-old finally secured his first title above the ATP 250 level, and he did it in style. But it wasn’t just the victory on the court that made headlines—it was what happened next.
Ruud entered the tournament as the third seed and embarked on a remarkable journey. He defeated Alexandre Muller, Jordan Thompson, and Matteo Arnaldi to reach the final. There, he faced Stefanos Tsitsipas, a rematch of their Monte-Carlo Masters showdown. Despite a shaky start, Ruud rallied to claim the opening set and eventually won the match 7-5, 6-3, securing the 11th ATP title of his career. Notably, he didn’t drop a single set throughout the entire tournament.
The Tradition
In Barcelona, there’s a delightful tradition awaiting the tournament champion. After lifting the trophy, the winner heads straight for the pool. It’s a moment of celebration, camaraderie, and pure joy. The ball kids, who play an essential role during the matches, join the champion in this ceremonious water splash.
True to the tradition, Casper Ruud dove into the pool with the ball kids. The water sparkled under the Spanish sun as Ruud celebrated his victory. It was a fitting way to mark his achievement—a refreshing dip after the intensity of the matches. The smiles on the faces of the ball kids mirrored the joy of the moment.
Casper Ruud in 2024
Now ranked no.6, Casper played his last match on the 21st of April when he beat world no.7 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 6-3 in the final in Barcelona to win his 11th career title.
This season the Norwegian achieved an overall 29-7 record. Ruud has won 1 title in Barcelona. The Norwegian was the finalist in Los Cabos, Acapulco and Monte-Carlo.