How Ruud Rode A Fast Start Towards Turin
by Jerome Coombe
In the countdown to the Nitto ATP Finals (10-17 November), our series, 'Towards Turin', will showcase qualified players and their path to the prestigious season finale.
Casper Ruud is no stranger to the intense spotlight of the Nitto ATP Finals. A former finalist with unfinished business, the Norwegian powerhouse will return to the prestigious season finale in 2024. After a season defined by his lightning-fast start, can Ruud find a late resurgence to go one step further this year in Turin?
The 25-year-old Ruud is seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and will join Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev in competing in the Italian city. It represents a chance for the Norwegian to rubber stamp his return to the game's elite this year: So just how did the 2021 semi-finalist and 2022 finalist at the Nitto ATP Finals bounce back after a difficult 2023?
RUUD'S 2024 STORY: FAST OUT THE BLOCKS
Ruud’s blistering start to the year proved crucial in propelling the Norwegian to his third appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. He racked up a 39-10 record through Roland Garros in early June, a tally which included his run to the biggest title of his career in Barcelona. Despite some late-season struggles, Ruud can also reflect on a championship-match appearance in Monte-Carlo and a semi-final run at Roland Garros among his 2024 achievements.
INSIGHTS: CASPER'S QUALITY
Ruud’s groundstrokes have been a defining feature of his ascent to the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Through a blend of power, spin and control, the Norwegian is able to dictate rallies with precision and aggression.
The weight and depth in his shots from both wings drag opponents around the court, and that familiar pattern has been key to Ruud's 2024 success. It is particularly crucial to his success on clay, the surface on which he has won both of his titles this season.
According to Tennis Data Innovations’ INSIGHTS, Ruud ranks eighth on the ATP Tour for average Backhand Quality in 2024 (as of 21 October) with a score of 7.55. He is 11th in the Forehand Quality averages, with a score of 8.04. These are the weapons that he uses to not only stay in the exchanges, but also transition himself into a commanding position. Shot Quality is calculated by analysing speed, spin, depth, width and impact on the opponent.
Ruud at Roland Garros. Photo Credit: Peter Staples for ATP Tour
Ruud at Roland Garros. Photo: Peter Staples for ATP Tour
THREE PEAK PERFORMANCES
1) Breakthrough In Barca
Ruud delivered a series of commanding performances en route to his maiden ATP 500 title in Barcelona in April. The third seed did not drop a set en route to lifting his 11th and biggest tour-level title, and he served some sweet revenge in the championship match. Ruud had fallen to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final a week prior, but the 25-year-old made no mistake against the same opponent on the Spanish coast to move 3-2 ahead in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Photo Credit: Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Photo Credit: Alex Caparros/Getty Images
2) All Class On Clay
Ruud enjoyed a standout European clay-court swing in 2024. He followed his strong runs in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona by lifting the title at the Gonet Geneva Open for the third time, a result that set him up nicely for Roland Garros. Ruud reached the semi-finals for the third consecutive year at the clay-court major in Paris, where he fell to Alexander Zverev in a tight four-set battle.
Photo Credit: Gonet Geneva Open
Photo Credit: Gonet Geneva Open
3) Making It In Mexico
Ruud’s early-season form was underpinned by a successful two-week stint in Mexico. He built on his 6-1 start to the season by reaching back-to-back finals in Los Cabos and Acapulco. Despite falling at the last hurdle to Jordan Thompson and Alex de Minaur, respectively, his performances served as a timely reminder of the former US Open finalist's capabilities on hard courts.
Photo Credit: Mextenis.
Photo Credit: Mextenis.
MILESTONE MOMENT
It seemed only fitting that Ruud's biggest title so far came on the surface that has proven to be the most fruitful throughout his career. Despite already reaching a career-high of No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, clinching 10 ATP Tour titles, and contesting three Grand Slam finals, Ruud came into the 2024 season having never tasted title success above ATP 250 level. In April, however, Ruud powered through the field in Barcelona to claim his maiden ATP 500 title.
Photo Credit: Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images
Photo Credit: Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images
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