Casper Ruud, the Norwegian clay-court specialist, has made a resounding return to his favorite surface at the Monte-Carlo Masters. His opening match against Roberto Bautista Agut was a masterclass of controlled aggression, resulting in a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory in just over an hour. The win is a strong indicator of Ruud's readiness for the upcoming clay-court season, where he has a significant number of points to defend.
"Just really happy to be back on clay," Ruud declared post-match. "Haven't played in six, seven months maybe. It's kind of love at first sight for me when we come back, I really enjoy it." This sentiment highlights the special connection Ruud shares with the clay, a surface where his heavy topspin and grinding style flourish.
The match against Bautista Agut held particular significance for Ruud. He explained, "Bautista has created a lot of problems for me in the past. I lost to him three times, only beat him once, really tough matches." Their last encounter in Basel, late last year, was especially crucial for Ruud's ATP Finals qualification. This victory in Monte-Carlo served as a satisfying revenge and a confidence booster.
Ruud's strategic approach on clay revolves around his signature heavy topspin shots and relentless physicality. "Just trying to play the heaviest shots possible at all times," he explained. "It's not like flat shots aren't working on clay, but for me I prefer the heavy topspin ones. In practice, I just try to repeat, repeat, repeat, see that my heavy shots are damaging my opponent's game. That's the game plan. Just kind of wear and tear them down, then hopefully at some point during your rally you get a sitter and you go for it."
Beyond his physical game, Ruud attributes his success on clay to his patient and controlled demeanor. "The reason I'm behaving the way I do is because I'm dreaming of a long career," he stated. "I figured quite early that if I do this for 15-20 years, and I'm too hard on myself, too angry, too negative, it's going to be a miserable life. You're playing matches all year round, traveling. It's better to do what you can – I get frustrated as well, many times in practices and matches – I just try not to show it. It's a constant battle of not showing too many emotions."
Ruud's preparation for the clay season also included the UTS Nimes event, which he described as an inspirational experience. "It was a very historic place, an old colosseum," he recalled. "The stadium was 2,000 years old from the Roman empire. It was an incredible experience to play tennis there. Going into the final, I played [Tomas] Machac and they were playing the Gladiator song. I was like, 'Whoa, really! Goosebumps.' You're looking at the walls of the colosseum and thinking if these walls could talk, they would tell some stories. It was a really motivating place to play, such an honour to be there where incredible previous events have taken place."
Looking ahead, Ruud faces Alexei Popyrin in the Round of 16 at the Monte-Carlo Masters, aiming for a third quarter-final appearance. His strong start and positive mindset suggest that he's well-positioned for another successful clay-court season.
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