"It is getting a bit too much" - Casper Ruud vents frustrations on hectic ATP schedule, suggests players are experiencing burnout

After a slow start to the 2025 season, Casper Ruud has rediscovered his form as he advances to the final of the Madrid Open. However, the former World No.2 voiced his concerns on the amount of matches required to be played by the stars of the ATP.

The Norwegian defeated Argentine Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets in Friday's semifinal, matching his best appearance in Madrid when he fell to Matteo Berrettini in 2021. Standing between Ruud and the title is Britain's Jack Draper, who overcame Lorenzo Musetti to reach the final.

Ruud is competing in his eighth tournament of the year, with Madrid being his third clay court event this season. The former Roland Garros runner-up opened up on the amount of matches players are forced to play during the long season, and hinted at punishments being doled out if they choose to skip events.

"You see all the other players playing every week or doing a full season, it is kind of like it forces you to do it yourself," said Ruud. “There are obviously days and times where I wish the season was a bit shorter and that we had more time to really, really calm down and not think about tennis for a longer period. But we don’t. The schedule is the way it is.
“If you end the year top 30 in the world, you are looking at the following year you are mandatory to play, I think I counted 28 or 29 weeks in the following year that you are mandatory to show up or forced to be there. If you count the slams being two weeks, there you have eight weeks, seven out of nine Masters 1000’s now are heading towards two week tournaments.
"Then we have five 500s that we are mandatory to play as well. So you are looking at 29 weeks that are mandatory, that you are supposed to show up, and if you don’t, the punishments are quite harsh. There are some things which players start to feel that it is getting a bit too much. I can’t speak for everyone but for myself I have definitely felt it."