By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Thursday, May 11, 2023
Casper Ruud, after a more durable than anticipated clay court docket season, is hoping his fortunes will change at this week’s Italian Open. Especially since he admits Rome was a turning level for him final 12 months on his technique to reaching two Grand Slam finals, together with Roland Garros.
“Last year was sort of the turning point of the clay season for me here in Rome,” Ruud stated in a pre-event press convention. “I hope this year, of course, as well that I can have a good result, sort of get a good result in a big tournament this year. That’s sort of not been happening so far. Hopefully can turn around here in Rome.”
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The fourth-ranked Ruud has struggled this season each on the majors and the tour’s greatest occasions.
Despite profitable the Estoril title final month, since then the Norwegian has suffered a number of early spherical losses in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid. That continued his pattern this season of shedding early together with on the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami.
Ruud, who has reached the Rome semis twice in his profession, is conscious of the pressures he faces to reside as much as his standout 2022 season, together with defending the big quantity of rating factors he accrued then.
“I knew that this year was going to be a big challenge because the things that I did last year is not maybe going to happen every year you play,” Ruud said. “To reach two Grand Slam finals, obviously the Nitto ATP Finals in the end of the year, it’s not something that I expect to do every year.
“Obviously I’m trying my best. The thing is, when you’ve done something before, to reach for example a Grand Slam final, you know that it can happen again because you have been able to do it before, so why not again?
“I think your expectations are a little bit higher coming into tournaments, which can be dangerous. If it doesn’t go well, you think, What am I doing wrong? What happened? Last year I was able to do this, why can I not do it this year? It can be a little bit challenging.I said the main goal this year is just to try to defend some of the tournaments, some points, try to keep myself in the top 10 in the end of the year, is something that will still be my main goal.”
Ruud, after a primary spherical bye, is scheduled to play Arthur Rinderknech within the second spherical.
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