Casper Ruud recently discussed his discomfort with the smaller dimensions of some tennis courts, which make him feel trapped inside a cage. The Norwegian tennis player has struggled this season, with just 11 wins out of 20 matches. Despite winning his 10th singles title at the ATP 250 Estoril Open last month, Ruud has found himself eliminated in the first and second rounds of many tournaments in 2023.
Daniil Medvedev’s complaints
Daniil Medvedev recently voiced his displeasure with the small dimensions of the Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Court during his fourth-round loss to Aslan Karatsev at the 2023 Madrid Open. In a press conference ahead of the Italian Open, Ruud commented on the issue, stating that he faced difficulty when returning the ball, especially when standing far from the baseline. He mentioned that players like himself and Medvedev often end up being very close to the line umpire on smaller courts, which can be tricky at times.
Feeling trapped on smaller courts
Ruud added that on smaller courts, he was too close to the line judge and felt as if he was in a cage. The 24-year-old player believes that the courts in Rome should be better suited for typical clay-court players such as himself. He described these courts as being significantly larger and deeper, which should alleviate the cramped feeling he experienced on other smaller courts.
Regaining form and upcoming tournaments
Acknowledging his struggles throughout the season, two-time Italian Open semifinalist Casper Ruud expressed hope that he would soon return to his best form. In the 2023 Italian Open, he is set to face either Italy’s Flavio Cobolli or Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the second round on Friday, May 12.
