By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday April 11, 2024
For Casper Ruud, the 2024 clay-court season is all concerning the angle.
The Norwegian has already carved out an enviable profession on the floor, which incorporates two Roland-Garros finals, 9 ATP titles, and 125 wins in opposition to simply 46 losses, however now that he’s 25, and with so many constructive experiences underneath his belt, Ruud is aiming for larger and higher.
That each one begins, says Ruud, with professionalism and consistency.
“I’m on the lookout for extra regular outcomes,” he stated on Thursday after defeating Hubert Hurkacz, 6-4, 6-2 . “I instructed myself that I want to attain the quarterfinal or higher each time I present as much as a event on the clay – that is form of the principle objective for the clay season. “If that is, 5, six quarterfinals in a row, I am going to take it however after all you wish to go even deeper.”
Man on a mission 🔥
Casper Ruud will get the entry to his twelfth profession Masters QF as he ends Hubert Hurkacz’s profitable streak and improves to 2-1 within the head-to-head in opposition to him
6-4 6-2
He’s 5-0 within the earlier Masters QFs performed on clay pic.twitter.com/3wyIxkKgw5
— Mario Boccardi (@marioboc17) April 11, 2024
Ruud says he’s getting into this stage of his profession with a distinct perspective. He needs to be extra assertive on the courtroom – and he is aware of he has the sport to do this.
Not that he hasn’t already — Ruud leads all ATP gamers in clay courtroom wins (96), finals (13) and titles (9) for the reason that begin of the 2020 season.
“I’ve form of set that as a little bit minimal to attempt to are available with a distinct mentality this 12 months and count on a little bit bit extra for myself,” he stated. “I’ve had just a few good outcomes prior to now on clay, clearly Roland-Garros twice in a row with a very nice consequence, that provides me confidence to say this stuff that I’m going to attempt to do effectively in each clay event.
“Typically it’s important to say sure issues, that you just consider in your self, and I’ve gained lots of self-belief after just a few ends in my profession already. I am getting older and there are extra younger guys coming.”
Now that he’s one of many veterans on tour, the Tenth-ranked Norwegian is aware of he has to face up and shield his territory. For him, all of it begins on the pink clay.
“I turned 25, just a few months in the past and I stated: ‘It is time to form of develop up. You are an grownup. Now you are a grown man, and it’s important to present as much as each event, believing extra in your self and coming with possibly a little bit bit totally different angle,’” Ruud stated. “So I am attempting [to do that] that this clay-court season.”
