Casper Ruud remains faithful to an illusion: aspiring to the greatest titles in the ATP Tour. The Norwegian climbed this Friday until his third final ATP Masters 1000 at the Mutua Madrid Openwhere he will try to conquer the most important cup of his career. On a whipped land that dominates as few, the Scandinavian defeated the Argentine Francisco Cerú (6-4, 7-5) in an exciting semifinal, resisting a permanent pressure on his service before catching the victory.
Rafa Nadal played his last final at Madrid Open in 2017. Eight years later, with the Balearic already retired, his school is again present in the Magic Fund. Casper Ruud, 26 years old and 15 of the world ranking, surpassed Francisco Cerú, 26 and 21st, 6-4 and 7-5 in 1h54 to get into the final of the Madrid 1,000 Masters, which will play tomorrow before Jack Draper.
Casper Ruud (Oslo, 23 years old) was the 143rd world when Rafa Nadal Academy of Manacor arrived in 2018. Seven years later he codes with the elite of tennis. But What do you know about Rafa Nadal’s pupil?
We tell you ten curiosities of the finalist of Mutua Madrid Open:
1. of Tenista father:
When Rafa Nadal won his first Roland Garros in 2005 Casper Ruud was six years old. He already knew what a racket and a tennis court was, because his father, Christian Ruud, had been professional, became the 39 of the world and had a court in the patio. He compatible the racket with football, skiing or ice hockey, which he abandoned at age 12. He is a fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL.
2. Train at the Academy of his idol, Rafa Nadal
Train in the Rafa Nadal Academy in which he entered in 2018. At that time it was the 143 of the world. He is guaranteed to leave Paris in the sixth position. “They take great care of me and I am very happy with the results and the improvement I am having with them.” Ruud It also confesses how training with Nadal in the balearic fief. “Very hard but fun sometimes. When you play against him on land he can give you many good advice. Although he is able to destroy you playing, it is a great experience you need for the future”.
3. Your coach
Pedro Clar has seven seasons working with Casper Ruud, the man who has led the Norwegian to settle in the tennis elite.
4. A crazy golf
Golf is a passion for Casper, which even opened a second Instagram account to talk only about it (@casper_golfer). If I could choose, it would opt for a game with Tiger Woods in the Masters.
-5. Your other passions
He is also a painting lover, likes to sail and has an innate ease for sports, after having practiced ice, football and ski hockey in his youth. It is a physical portent that knows how to combine power and resistance to a thousand wonders. He confesses that he sometimes draws to relax and disconnect.
6. Your girlfriend
He maintains a relationship since 2018 with Maria Galigani, with whom he shares numerous images on Instagram. The young woman graduated from Bjerknes College in 2020 with a degree in Psychology. He also studied a Master in Psychology at Syddansk university, in southern Denmark. Maria has always been a great defender of Casper’s career and has seen her encouraging him in several tournaments. Last November they announced their commitment.
7. Family
His mother, Lele Ruud, is an unconditional support for the tennis player. He has two sisters and the youngest of them Charlotte, wants to follow his steps. In 2023 he decided to enroll in the adventure of American university tennis having signed by the University of Southern Florida award for his tennis potential .. He also has a pet, a puppy called Low!
8. Your gastronomic pleasures
He likes Asian food, Asian, Japanese and Thai flavors. He really likes him pad thaiwhich is a fairly simple dish of noodles. But Sushi is also among his favorite dishes.
9. What do you eat before a game?
Always eat the same. Very simple rice with chicken, a little olive oil and salt. “Salt is also good to sweat a lot,” he says.
10. Your ideal retirement
He loves ships, relaxes navigate and also swim in deep water. That is why Mallorca or Miami are their favorite places to retire.
