Ruud: "The new generation is going all out, before there was more point construction"

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 15 Jan 2026 | 12.17

Ruud: "The new generation is going for it all, there used to be more point construction." Photo: Getty

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The construction of points, the aggressiveness, and speed of the current game are constant topics of debate. Present in this process of evolution of the men's circuit, Casper Ruud wanted to offer his point of view on the subject a few days before the start of a 2026 Australian Open that is very special for the Norwegian.

In addition to trying to compete at the highest level, Ruud's main concern in the upcoming days is far from Australia. Casper will be closely monitoring his pregnant wife, who is about to give birth in the coming weeks.

Casper Ruud and the most special news

"I'll be honest. I don't want to generate too much speculation, but for those who want to know: the expected due date is towards the end of the Australian Open, the last weekend. Hopefully, the baby will wait a few more days, and I can finish the tournament. But if I receive the call and labor starts, I'll go home. It's not the shortest flight in the world, but I want to be there as soon as possible for the birth of my first child. That possibility exists. The date is an estimate, and if it happens earlier, I can't control it and I'll go. I hope to finish in Melbourne and then return home, but if something happens earlier, I'll leave without hesitation," Casper confessed in an interview with Gill Gross.

The key change in Casper Ruud's racket

"I'm interested in seeing how it performs on clay because I haven't been able to try it there yet. Last summer on hard courts in the United States, I felt that everything was happening very fast, and with the 100 head size racket, I was a bit late. I couldn't release the swing naturally and had to compensate too much with my wrist and arm. With the 98 size, especially on fast or indoor courts, I feel like I can hit more freely, flatten the shots more, and not be so afraid of the ball going long. Still, when it comes to clay and needing more spin and power, we'll see. For now, I feel very comfortable with it, and it's working well.

It's a feeling of greater control. I play with a longer racket than normal, so a 100 head size plus a long frame could be a bit wild. If you're a bit late or don't control the angle well, the ball shoots out. With the 98 one, the racket provides less power, but even when you don't hit it perfectly, the ball tends to go in and be a good shot."

The effects and evolution of tennis

"When I entered the ATP circuit, I could stay back on the return and play a heavy shot without needing to hit very close to the baseline. Nowadays, if I don't hit almost on the baseline, many opponents attack immediately. I don't know if it's because of the type of balls or because the new generation is more aggressive. Topspin sometimes doesn't "bite" as much as before. With new balls, that heavy feeling returns, but as the games go by, the ball becomes very fluffy, loses pressure, and doesn't bounce the same. It's a constant debate.

The new generation goes for it much earlier. Before, there was more point construction, now it's serve and first shot or immediate attack. Even other players like Tsitsipas have commented that tennis has changed since we entered the circuit. The best to answer that would be Novak, who has experienced several different generations."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ruud: "La nueva generación va a por todas, antes había más construcción del punto"