During his match at the Canadian Open in Toronto, Casper Ruud found himself in a moment that had fans both wincing and chuckling. Facing Portugal’s Nuno Borges, Ruud mishit a forehand so badly that it veered off course and struck a box near the net post. The Norwegian, known for his composed demeanor, didn’t shy away from the blunder.
A Lighthearted Response
Rather than brushing it off, Ruud leaned into the humor. He took to social media and quipped, “I think I need to take a trip to @rnadalacademy to fine tune the forehand banana passing shot..” His self-deprecating remark quickly gained traction, with fans appreciating his ability to laugh at himself.
Turning the Match Around
Despite the early setback, Ruud managed to rally. He clawed back from a 1-4 deficit in the first set to win 6-4, and edged out the second set 7-5. His nine aces and improved shot selection helped him secure the victory and advance in the tournament.
Why Nadal Academy?
The Rafael Nadal Academy, located in Mallorca, Spain, is renowned for its elite training programs. Ruud’s mention of the academy wasn’t just a joke—it’s a nod to one of the sport’s most respected institutions. If there’s anywhere to polish a banana shot, that’s the place.
Fans Join the Fun
The moment was shared widely online, with one fan captioning a clip of the errant forehand: “Casper’s forehand for most of the match today 😭.” Ruud’s playful reply added to the charm, showing that even top athletes can embrace their off days with grace.
Ruud in Toronto, ranking, and results in 2025
Now ranked no.13, Casper achieved a compiled 28-9 match record in 2025. Casper is playing in Toronto where he beat the world no.82 Roman Safiullin 6-3 6-3 and the world no.42 Nuno Borges 7-5 6-4.
Casper Ruud will face the world no.16 Karen Khachanov in the 4th round. The head to head is 2-0 for Ruud.
Ruud conquered 1 title in 2025 in Madrid. Casper got to the final in Dallas (Dallas Open).
The Norwegian won 13 titles in his career: 1 on hard courts and 12 on clay courts. (See the list of his titles)