Ruud on sacrifices to begin tennis career: “It’s been paying off and I’m very grateful now”

Ruud detailed his discipline which he had to uphold to begin his career in a recent interview and how that shaped him into the player he is today.

The Norwegian has father Christian who was formally in the top 40 in the world as his coach and he said that when he was younger while his friends were drinking and partying he never touched alcohol and spent hours on the court instead.

“I’ve taken a lot of choices and decisions that weren’t always easy but I had to do it because of my career and I don’t look at it as the toughest choices because I enjoy tennis so much,” said Ruud to ATP Uncovered.

“Every weekend in Norway it’s usual to go to your cabin or summer house, but every weekend me and my father went out on court and played at least 6 or 7 hours a day. I think those were the kind of choices that made me step ahead of my competitors back in Norway.”

“The other players still played well but I went one step ahead each week or each month. It was tough sometimes to get up and train for 3 or 4 hours but I knew if I did it right and stayed serious, it’s been paying off and I’m very grateful now.”

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