Ruud: "Tennis players live under stress and put too much pressure on ourselves"

Casper Ruud appeared at a press conference after debuting with a victory at the Laver Cup 2026 against Cerúndolo, in a match that could be a turning point for him following the injury that kept him from competing at the US Open. The Norwegian shared the keys to the success of this competition.

This is the ninth edition, which has left unforgettable moments in the minds of fans and seems to be fully established in the calendar. The Laver Cup continues to grow and earn notable praise from the participating tennis players. Casper Ruud is one of the players with the most participations and explained some of the virtues of a tournament that offers unique opportunities within the ATP calendar.

This is what Casper Ruud said at the Laver Cup 2026

Assessment of his victory over Cerúndolo

"It was a great start for us. Every point is important, and I knew that. Even though I was a set down, I told myself that I had to try to push through for the team and get the first point. A match doesn’t end until it’s over. Additionally, knowing that the third set would be decided in a super tiebreaker makes you fight even harder to win at least one set and bring the match to that point. I wasn’t satisfied with my game at all times, but I was satisfied with the victory."

Ruud emphasizes the confidence gained from this win

"I wasn’t finding my returns well, especially on the second serve. I intended to go around the ball to hit as many forehands as possible, but I couldn’t do it exactly as I wanted. I made some timing errors and sent several balls long, which is not typical when I play my best tennis." 

"It was a start with some nerves and a bit of lack of rhythm, perhaps because I hadn’t played a match at this level for several weeks. My last competition at high intensity was in Montreal. The feeling of playing good tennis is something you hold on to, but it can disappear quickly. I hope that a victory like today's shows me that, even without playing my best tennis, I can fight and win matches against great players."

Importance of support from teammates

"It helped me a lot. Some teammates, especially Tim, were by my side throughout the match. It was tough to lose the first set, but I told myself I had to try to win for the guys and for the team. I wasn’t playing alone, and I wanted to give it my all. The teammates cheered for me, helped me, and supported me all the time." 

"When we reached the super tiebreaker, it was fantastic to see all the players on the bench. I didn’t start too well, but I managed to react and win some important points at the end. It was very nice to see how my teammates were happy and celebrated the victory."

Noah and Henman bring a healthy perspective to tennis

"Yes, there are some differences. With Yannick and Tim, we cheer a lot more than with Björn and Thomas (laughs). I would say both Björn and Yannick are very free-spirited individuals, living in a relaxed way without worrying too much about things. That’s a positive." 

"Sometimes players put too much pressure on ourselves and get stressed, even though our profession can be quite demanding. It’s good to have someone like Yannick, who sees tennis in a different way than I do, and with Tim, who watches a lot of tennis and has worked as a commentator. He observes us at major tournaments virtually all year and understands the strengths and weaknesses of our games."

"Both of them challenge me in a positive way. They approach the net much more, or at least they did during their careers, and they play with flatter shots than mine. They encourage me to incorporate that type of resource as well. It’s interesting to hear different opinions from those I've received over many years."

Illuminating reflections from Casper Ruud that provide an interesting view on what the Laver Cup 2026 means for the tennis players, dismissing the preconceived notion that they only overact for money and that it is an exhibition tournament. Both his on-court attitude and his words off the court demonstrate that the players have a deep devotion to this event.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ruud: "Los tenistas vivimos estresados y nos ponemos demasiada presión"