Casper Ruud takes fans inside the scheduling spectacle

Fans see the world's best tennis players compete around the world. What they might not realise is the process the stars go through to decide where to compete and when.

One of the beautiful parts of life on the ATP Tour is that players have the opportunity to perform at spectacular venues on different surfaces and in interesting atmospheres. They can play indoors or outdoors, on clay, hard or grass.

Casper Ruud has taken to South American clay during this time of the season in his career, but opted to continue his 2025 in North America, beginning with this week's Dallas Open.

“You have the indoor European [tournaments before] going to the Middle East. So there are a few different choices, especially now in February, that you can choose. This year, I wanted to come here to Dallas. It's a new tournament for me,” Ruud said. “I heard a lot of good things, especially through John [Isner]. I know he lives here and played this tournament since the beginning, and it also got upgraded to a 500. It worked for my schedule, I wanted to try something new this year, and Dallas was a great option.”

Ruud explained that it is a time of the year when players have options of different swings they can play before there is a stretch of fewer choices. For example, in March, the world’s best players will all compete in Indian Wells together before moving to Miami.

With the Dallas Open now an ATP 500 event, it adds even more incentive for players to compete in Dallas compared to Rotterdam, also an ATP 500.

“I like also playing Acapulco. I had a great time there last year and in the previous years, so it's one of my favourite stops during the year, and Dallas is quite nearby,” Ruud said. “It's further from Europe, all the way to Acapulco. I know also there will be an option to play Europe and then the Middle East, but then the travel to anywhere else is quite far from Dubai. So this is quite convenient.

“We're here in the U.S. and Mexico for seven, eight weeks. It's a long trip, but it's a nice one. I love playing golf, and I try to play golf everywhere I can. And America and Mexico are good places for golf.”

Early in Ruud’s career, the 12-time ATP Tour titlist was known for his prowess on clay. The Norwegian plays a physical game that has long proven fruitful on the slower dirt. But instead of heading to South America for the Golden Swing, like he did as a younger player, Ruud is competing on hard courts until the European clay-court season.

“It's a fast indoor surface. My game, I know it's quite can be quite vulnerable to the surface, because I play a lot of spin. I don't always take the ball that early, and I'm vulnerable to being attacked by flat or fast hitters, strong hitters. So I know that,” Ruud said. “But I need to challenge myself. On the surface, this is the last indoor tournament I will play in six, seven months, probably. So in a way, I'm happy it's over for a while, but I want to make it a good finish.”

Ruud battled through a tough first-round clash in Dallas against lucky loser James Duckworth 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. He is now 6-1 on the season and pursuing his first title of 2025.

“I came from Davis Cup, where I felt like I played quite aggressive and good indoor tennis. Today was tougher to do because James serves really well and plays flat and a low ball, so it's not easy to attack it. But I stayed there and kept solid through the third set,” Ruud said. “Let's see how next match will be. I'm going to seek to be aggressive and try to maybe come in a little bit more. But like I said, today was tricky to do against James. You don't get that many chances to do it. But Thursday is a new match, so I'm going to rest and prepare and be as ready as I can for it.”

“Casper! Casper! Casper!”

Countless fans screamed Ruud's name repeatedly on Tuesday evening, hoping to catch the No. 5 player in the PIF ATP Rankings’ attention following his opening victory. Some wanted autographs and others hoped for a photo. They nearly knocked over the barricades, desperate to get closer to the three-time major finalist.

Ruud is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. But the scene at The Star, the world headquarters and practice facility of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, was what you would expect for a rockstar. It was a true spectacle, and Ruud spent plenty of time to pay back the fans and send them home happy.

“At times it can be a lot, but I know that it makes me happy and smile, knowing that if I show up for a picture or do a signature for a kid, I know they're going to go home and have a happy rest of the day, most likely and have a smile on his or her face,” Ruud told ATPTour.com. “That makes me happy. It's a very nice thing about this life that you can put joy in other people's lives and faces. I always try my best to do pictures.

“Sometimes I don't always have time for everyone, but I try my best to catch as many as I can.”