The Caja Magica will always be a special venue for Casper Ruud.
Exactly one year ago, the Norwegian lifted the most important trophy of his career at the Mutua Madrid Open, proving his ability to compete for the biggest prizes on the ATP Tour. One of the most respected proponents of clay-court tennis is back and ready to do something he has never done before; play the role of champion in the Spanish capital.
“It’s motivating for me to return to the tournament and try to play good tennis”, said the Scandinavian, who will be seeded No. 12 in the Caja Magica. “The next two weeks are going to be very exciting”.
Casper’s mere presence in Madrid is good news. Only a few days ago, the Norwegian had to withdraw while chasing a place in the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo, one of the most prestigious events of the European clay swing. In a quest to find his best form, Ruud sought solace in the company of former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, one of his closest friends in the locker room.
“I’m happy to say I’m fully recovered”, Casper admitted. “I was a bit worried at first, I thought Madrid would be tough. But I’ve had good days of recovery. I spent a week in Mallorca, training at Rafa’s academy and working on fitness off the court. I’m really pleased to be here, ready to compete again”.
The advice of the Mallorcan, the most decorated player in the history of the Mutua Madrid Open, is fresh in the mind of the Scandinavian as he arrives in Caja Magica. His words promise to prime the reigning champion with confidence before he embarks on the challenge of defending his trophy.
“Rafa has encouraged me to carry on and give my best. You can’t ask any more of a player. Rafa has won so many big titles on clay, I could never compare myself to him. He’s in a league of his own on this surface. If there’s one thing you can learn from him, it’s determination. He never gave up, and he was able to win many matches without being at his best because he was so well prepared physically and mentally”.
“There are so many things you can learn from Rafa. This time, we didn’t spend much time together on court. He encouraged me to keep going and told me I have plenty to fight for in the coming weeks”.
Now, having completed his physical preparations, Ruud is ready to try and defend the biggest trophy of his career. He knows his progress will be under scrutiny at a tournament where he’ll be one of the strongest players. However, despite a couple of absences, the Norwegian expects to be met with some fierce competition, as is the case every year in Madrid.
“It’s sad that Carlos and Novak aren’t here, but plenty of players are coming into the tournament in good form. Jannik is here and could achieve something historic if he wins, Arthur Fils is coming off a win in Barcelona. There’s also a young Spaniard, Rafael Jódar, he’s a fantastic player and will be a big name in the future. There are plenty of players to enjoy”.