Madrid, Apr 22 (EFE).- The Norwegian Casper Ruud, winner of the Madrid Masters 1000 in 2025, declared that returning to the Spanish capital is “a motivation and something exciting” and revealed, after spending a few days at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Manacor, that if there is something you can learn from the former Balearic tennis player it is “his determination.”
Ruud, number 15 in the ATP ranking, returns to Madrid as current champion after beating Englishman Jack Draper in the final last year. He does so a few days after retiring while looking for a place in the quarterfinals in Monte Carlo. In search of his best version, Ruud took refuge in the company of his friend Rafa Nadal.
“It makes me happy to be able to say that I am 100% recovered. I was a little worried at first, I thought Madrid would be complicated, but I have had good days of recovery. I spent a week in Mallorca, training at Rafa’s academy and doing physical work off the track,” he revealed.
“Rafa has encouraged me to continue and give my best. There is nothing more you can demand from a player. He has won so many important titles on clay that I could never compare to him. He is in a different league to everyone on clay. If there is something you can learn from him it is determination, he never gave up, he was able to win many matches without reaching his best level, because physically and mentally he was very well prepared,” he confessed.
“This time we didn’t spend much time together on the court but he encouraged me to continue and told me that I have many things to fight for in the coming weeks,” commented the Norwegian, who regretted the absences in Madrid of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
“It’s sad that neither of them are here, but many players come to the tournament with good momentum. Jannik Sinner has come and will look for something historic if he manages to win the tournament and Arthur Fils arrives after winning Barcelona. There is also a young Spaniard, Rafael Jódar, who is a fantastic player and is going to be a leading figure in the future. There are many names to enjoy,” he concluded. EFE
