Ruud and a tough confession: "I know I probably won't break major records in this sport"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 16 May 2026 | 00.11

Ruud and a tough confession: "I know I probably will not break big records in this sport." Photo: Gettyimages.

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Casper Ruud rediscovers his tennis at the most crucial moment of the clay court season, less than ten days before the start of Roland Garros. As a result, he advances to the final of the ATP Rome after sweeping Luciano Darderi in the semifinals (6-1, 6-1). Moreover, while waiting for the finalist between Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev, he becomes the only player to reach the final of a Masters 1000 on clay in each of the last three seasons.

However, in the press conference following his victory, the Norwegian shared an interesting reflection on the high expectations that were placed on him after the end of the Big 3 era and before the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. It is worth noting that Ruud was just one match away from becoming the world number one at the US Open 2022. He also gave a very realistic view of his current situation and took the opportunity to explain the reasons behind his excellent performance in Rome.

Casper Ruud and the Failed Attempt to Become One of the Tennis References after the Big 3

"Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and realize that maybe I wasn't destined to win some of the matches I lost, or see how I didn't take advantage of the opportunities to take over after the Big 3 dominance when it seemed to be nearing its end. Obviously, Novak is still there, and in my opinion, he can still win the most important titles when he's at his best."

"I was one of the players in that conversation for a few years. But I couldn't sustain it. Others clearly surpassed me. Then Jannik and Carlos appeared, and they have become what they are today. Sometimes I may be at home wishing it was me and not them. But I'm also realistic and understand that they have something special. Moreover, they work very hard. It's not just talent; there's also a tremendous amount of work behind it."

He Forgets to Make History and Focuses on Himself

"Their progression has been much better than mine in recent years. Has it been frustrating? A bit. But you can't think too much about other players. You have to follow your own path in this sport and focus on yourself. It's an individual sport. Constantly comparing yourself to others, I think, is the biggest mistake you can make."

"You have to trust yourself, your feelings, and that what you're doing is right. I know that I probably won't break big records in this sport, but I can do my best within my career and my own path."

A Tennis Better Than in Madrid

"I'm not sure. It's only been two weeks since the last tournament in Madrid. In a few days, you can't improve that much. My forehand seems to be causing a lot of trouble for opponents. I think I'm playing quite solid on the backhand side. In Madrid, when I lost to Blockx, I was very erratic with the forehand and didn't pose problems from the backhand side either."

"Here in Rome, I've been returning very well and building points nicely from there. I'm happy with how I feel on the court. It's easier to hit full swings here than in Madrid because the ball doesn't fly as much. You feel it dropping and coming in. It's a very good feeling. I think the return and baseline game are even better than in Madrid."

On the Differences Between the Caja Mágica and the Foro Itálico

"I arrived here early. I came two weeks ago on Saturday to prepare well for the tournament. Honestly, in the first few days, I didn't feel the ball very well. I felt quite tired because here the exchanges are different from those in Madrid. There, you get many more free points with the serve, and big servers can take advantage of it significantly. But here you have to build more and play more points."

"I thought that if I was feeling somewhat tired, probably my opponents were too. We're all in the same situation. I started the tournament well and gained confidence. I think the match against Lehecka, which I won in the third round, gave me a lot of confidence and positive momentum. Since then, I've tried to focus on what worked well there and keep improving it. Every day, I've felt a little better. Some sets against Khachanov and today have been some of the best feelings I've had on court in a long time. And that's a great sign," concludes Casper Ruud, who couldn't fulfill the role of Big 3 successor but celebrates his advancement to the final of the ATP Rome 2026.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ruud y una dura confesión: "Sé que probablemente no voy a batir grandes récords en este deporte"