"I no longer felt like getting up and going to train when the alarm clock rang in the morning" - Casper Ruud candid about prior mental health struggles amid prosperous Paris campaign

Being a professional tennis player is the dream for many but is most certainly not plain sailing. Casper Ruud bravely opened up on his recent struggles after reaching an 11th Masters 1000 semi-final as he got the better of lucky loser Nuno Borges 7-6(5), 6-4 at the Paris Masters.

It is the first time the Norwegian has made it to this point in the French capital, outside of Roland Garros. He is yet to drop a set, taking down Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Rafael Jodar and Jan-Lannard Struff before seeing off Borges.

He is set to make a return to the top 20 in the world thanks to this deep run. There have been real positives throughout the campaign for the Norwegian, including the Rome Open final. However, he is still not consistently putting in the results that he was once expected to do when in his pomp.

A former World No.2, Ruud has reached three Grand Slam finals as well as the 2022 ATP Finals final. The 2025 Madrid Open champion has a stacked CV, but over the last couple of years, new editions to this list have been sparse. However, a second Masters 1000 title is closing in, and it would be a tremendous way to end his season.

This week of tennis proves that Ruud has what it takes to once again rise up and battle the elite on the ATP Tour, like he once did. However, there have been struggles not visible to tennis fans away from the competition that have seen him struggle.

Back in 2025, just before triumphing in Madrid, he was very candid about this and openly explained what he was going through. The 27-year-old touched on the subject once more following the quarter-final victory in Paris.

"Last year I had some mental health issues; I wasn't doing well psychologically. But I sought help, it worked, and I got a quick response. I started feeling much better, so it helped me a lot to have someone to talk to about certain things," he said.

"I think the hardest thing is that it's a very monotonous and repetitive life. You train for hours and hours, whether you're in Miami, Wimbledon, or anywhere else. It's always the same. Training can be enjoyable, but it can also become exhausting."

The number of tournaments the tennis players are competing in is starting to have its negative effects, and that is the case for Ruud from a mental perspective. "The matches are exciting, of course, but they also take a huge mental toll. We have so many mandatory tournaments that it prevents us from enjoying long periods of training, which are precisely what allow you to truly improve," he detailed.

"When you play so many tournaments, it's difficult to find time to improve as a tennis player. Training becomes very repetitive, and you end up wondering if you can still progress and how you can become a better player. It's complicated because you don't have time to breathe, go back home for a month or two, and really train, working on specific aspects of your game. The only time you can do that is during the off-season. And even then, if you play in the ATP Finals, you finish at the end of November and you have to be ready to start in Australia at the beginning of January."

This had a knock-on effect. Motivation for the sport he loves was depleting, and he even considered taking drastic action. "All of that meant that last year I reached a point where I no longer felt like getting up and going to train when the alarm clock rang in the morning. Until then I had always trained because I wanted to. During that period, however, I did it because I had to."

While aware of the fortunate position he was in, Ruud still vented his frustrations. "I don't want to complain, I know many people have repetitive jobs, but you're constantly packing and unpacking, going from one airport to another, catching flight after flight, and organising your travel... Sometimes it all becomes too much. That's what I experienced last year.

"I did everything I could to get out of that state, and this season things are going much better. I've realised that my career won't last forever and that I have to try to enjoy it during the years I have left on the circuit. But yes, sometimes it's difficult to overcome certain situations."

He did everything he could to get out of this rut and back to enjoying his profession. "Few people enjoy their job every day of the year, but for me it was the first time I felt the need to turn off my alarm in the morning. I trained because it was my job, not because I wanted to improve. It scared me to feel that way. It wasn't pleasant. I sought help and tried to manage the situation as best I could. We found a solution and several techniques I can use if that feeling overwhelms me again. But I hope it doesn't happen again."

It does not get much harder than Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. The Spaniard was somewhat fortunate to be in this position at all, coming out on top against Taylor Fritz in a three-set thriller after saving two match points. That meant Rafael Jodar, whom Ruud defeated earlier in the year, qualifies for the ATP Finals at the expense of the American.

Ruud will most certainly not be making the trip to Turin, but there is still a lot at stake in this semi-final. They have played seven times, one of which came on indoor hardcourts. That is the only time Ruud has ever defeated Alcaraz, in the 2024 ATP Finals.

"We've played some great matches, and he's won most of them," he ruefully admitted. "The truth is, he's been my nemesis in some of the most important matches of my life, and he taught me several important lessons for my career. He's a great person, a pleasure to be around, and I'm looking forward to facing him."

However, he is feeling good and fresher than other players who have played a busier season than him. "Honestly, I've been feeling great physically and in terms of my tennis for the past few weeks. I think taking a few weeks off in the summer, with my wedding and the grass court season, has allowed me to arrive now less fatigued, both physically and mentally, than usual. I'm playing good tennis and I hope I can continue like this against Carlos."