Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz recently took a break from preparing for the 2023 Italian Open and visited the Marco Simone Golf Club for a golf session with European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. Ruud, an avid follower of golf and passionate golfer himself, hinted at a possible collaboration by tagging the Ryder Cup and Wimbledon Instagram channels in a social media post.
Photos and videos from the golf session
In the photos and videos shared by Ruud on Instagram, Luke Donald can be seen taking a shot while Ruud and Taylor observe. The former World No. 2 tennis player also took a swing himself and shook hands with the English champion. Ruud’s love for golf was further highlighted when the DP World Tour’s official channel posted a picture of the Norwegian embracing and congratulating the DP World Tour Italian Open winner Adrian Meronk.
Ruud to compete in the Italian Open 2023
Casper Ruud is set to play in the 2023 Italian Open, with his opening match scheduled for Friday, May 12. The fourth seed has received a first-round bye and will play against the winning qualifier from the first round. Ruud, who has won nine of his ten titles on clay, began his 2023 clay season with a title win at the Estoril Open.
Adjusting to clay courts and potential competition
In an interview before the Madrid Open, Ruud discussed the uniqueness of clay courts, stating that the ball travels slower through the air and bounces differently compared to hard courts. The 24-year-old noted that adjustments need to be made when transitioning from hardcourt to clay, as defenders have more opportunities and winners and aces are harder to achieve. Looking ahead, Ruud is likely to face strong competition from Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, and Botic van de Zandshulp before potentially reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament.
