"Otherwise, I’d be begging for a full day off": Casper Ruud praying weather gods are right in needing a break after Tsitsipas epic

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 at 08:38

Casper Ruud plays at Swiss Indoors Basel

Defending champion Casper Ruud described his dramatic three-set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Madrid Open as a match that “felt like a big final” after coming through 6–7, 7–6, 7–6 in a contest of the highest quality.

The Norwegian, who last faced Tsitsipas in back-to-back finals in Monaco and Barcelona two years ago, admitted the clash brought back memories of their previous battles as he continues at the Madrid Open.

“Yeah, I mean the last time Stef and I played each other was back-to-back finals two years ago in Monaco and Barcelona,” Ruud said on Tennis Channel. “So we haven’t played since, maybe because neither of us has had the best results over the last couple of years.

“But this run really felt like we went back a couple of years in time. It was really enjoyable, even though it was tough, nerve-wracking and exhausting. It was fun to play, and it was nice to see Stef playing really good tennis.”

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Ruud also acknowledged the challenges Tsitsipas has faced in recent seasons, particularly with injuries, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the ATP ranking system.

“The last year and a half or two has been somewhat tough for him. He struggled with injury, and tennis is such a brutal sport when you’re injured,” he said. “If you don’t come back immediately with your A-game, you can fall down very quickly. Our points only stay for 52 weeks, so if you don’t perform all year round, you just say bye-bye to the top spots.”

The match itself proved to be a test of resilience, with Ruud missing 11 break-point opportunities before finally converting when it mattered most.

“I just told myself that I’m doing the right things,” he explained. “Out of those 11 break points, I think he made maybe nine or ten big first serves, and I didn’t really get returns in play. If I did, they were too short, and he would put them away.”

One missed opportunity in particular stood out. “I did have one second-serve chance where I made him play, and I had a pretty easy forehand, around 2,1 in the third set. My first instinct was to go crosscourt, then I changed my mind mid-backswing and went down the line instead. I hesitated and didn’t hit it with enough determination, and dumped it into the net.

“That was tough because when you don’t get many chances and you miss one of the bigger ones, it stings and can stay with you.”

The immediate aftermath saw Ruud lose serve, but he refused to let the moment define the outcome. “I think it affected me because I got broken right after, from 2,0 to 2,3. Then in the next game, I had love,40 to break back, and again he came up with big serves. It went deuce, ad, deuce, ad, it was kind of crazy. But luckily, I broke him when I had my last chance.

“When I got broken at 2,3, I told myself, ‘Let’s try to get the break back.’ And I felt like the match deserved to go to a third-set tiebreak, there had already been two, so why not another one?”

Best level of the season so far

Having come through nearly three hours on court, Ruud believes the victory could mark his best level of the season so far.

“Could be,” he said when asked if he was playing his best tennis of the year. “This match was different from my first two matches, they were quicker, straight sets. Today I really felt tested to my limits, especially with Stef’s serve and aggressive play.

“When I stand that far back on return, I’m vulnerable to serve-and-volley, and he exposed that today because he does it quite a lot. So I’m happy that I physically and mentally got through three tough hours and managed it well.”

Returning to Madrid as defending champion has also been a positive experience for the Norwegian, who praised both the venue and the atmosphere around the tournament.

“It’s great. I love the facility, the fans and the crowd are amazing,” he said. “It feels like a modern stadium, even though it’s probably 20, 25 years old. It’s kept that modern feel very well, and it’s different from other tournaments.

Casper Ruud last year in Rome.

“There’s always a lot going on in Madrid. Tomorrow there’s a huge football match, Atlético against Arsenal. I’m sure some players will go watch. There’s just a really good atmosphere here.”

With a place in the quarter-finals secured, Ruud is now balancing preparation with recovery, and even hoping for a little help from the weather.

“I think luckily it’s supposed to rain tomorrow,” he said with a smile. “That means no tennis, so I have a legitimate excuse not to hit. Otherwise, I’d be begging for a full day off.

“If I do hit, it’ll just be maybe 30 minutes, very easy, just to feel the ball and get some blood flow going. If not, I’ll do something in the gym to flush out the lactic acid from today.”

Ruud will next face Alexander Blockx for a place in the semi-finals, carrying momentum from one of the standout matches of the tournament so far.

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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