Casper Ruud put together a remarkable effort during the Madrid Open on Sunday. In the Junior Boys’ Final, he defeated Sebastian Korda, avenging his father’s loss to Korda’s father, Petr Korda, in the 1990 Junior Boys’ Final. This victory was quite a watershed event for the Ruud family. It was Ruud’s 150th victory on clay, underscoring his status as one of the game’s best-ever players on the surface.
The match against Korda was a historic one. It comes 26 years after Christian Ruud, Casper’s father, triumphed against Petr Korda at the Miami Open back in 1999, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Casper Ruud couldn’t overstate the significance of this win, revealing to reporters immediately afterward that he’d thought at first that his father had lost to Korda.
“Honestly I thought he had lost to Petr before, so I was out here seeking revenge for the family, but this is an even better statistic for us.” – Casper Ruud
A Family Legacy
Casper Ruud’s victory over Korda further embeds a legacy still being made by the Ruud family in professional tennis. Christian Ruud’s previous success brought the conditions in which Casper thrived. Since that moment, Casper has gone on to become a two-time French Open runner-up. This family feud has an intense personal toll. Not only does it give the sport a unique character, but it hooks fans who cherish the historical ties that bind players.
Ruud’s impressive run of success on clay surfaces tells a different story — one of an athlete in full bloom. Accomplishing 150 wins on this unique surface puts him in the conversation with the best of the best that ever raced in the sport. Casper’s getting ready for the Grand Slam, which runs May 25–June 8. Whether the new route lays the groundwork for national family-facing transportation policy to come, or becomes tarred by infrastructure failures remains to be seen.
Upcoming Challenges
Next up, Casper Ruud draws Taylor Fritz in the round of 16 at the Madrid Open. Fritz, currently the third-seeded American player, presents a tough test for Ruud. The upcoming round will be a true test of Ruud’s technical ability and mental toughness as he tries to make a deeper run in the tournament.
Ruud recognized the importance of playing against players with a family connection to professional tennis. He discussed the special dynamics that result from these one-off competitions. This just adds to the deep sense of community found in the sport.
“We’ll try to keep it alive for as long as possible. It’s fun that you see certain situations like this where father and son have played and are doing well.” – Casper Ruud
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