"Special thanks to Rod" says Casper Ruud to Rod Laver after San Diego Open

It was the 5th title of the season for Ruud who is enjoying a breakout season that saw him enter the top 10 recently. It also gave him 250 ATP points which he needs to confirm his place at the ATP Finals in Turin. After the match, Ruud thanked longtime San Diego resident Rod Laver who was in attendance for the final:

"Special thanks to Rod, obviously the legend. I think you need to come to all my matches now because I'm playing really good when you come and watch. I hope you will come to Indian Wells next week to watch, so let's see [what happens there]!"

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With the win, Ruud emerged as the player who won the most titles in 2021 with 5 in front of the likes of Djokovic and Medvedev who each have 4. On that he said:

"It's a fun thing to say it, but obviously Daniil and Novak have bigger titles, so I wouldn't mind switching up with them if I had an opportunity to switch five 250s to three Slams and a 250 Novak has. It's a bit higher level, but that's fine. I think that's more impressive obviously than five 250s, but I will take it."

Ruud improved to a perfect 5-0 in ATP Finals this year and asked about that he said:

"I tried to be playing really good in finals knowing it's now or never. This is the time to bring your 'A' game. This year I've been perfect in finals, five of five and playing against good players in all of them."