It was number 2 of the ATP ranking, it reached the final of Roland Garros and US Open and revealed: “I felt a Hamster on a wheel”

Con Trunfo a tres Sets ante jakub menik, Francisco closing it He got into the semifinals of the Masters 1000 from Madridwhere will you face Casper Ruud for a place in the grand finale. The Norwegian, today 15 ° of Ranking ATPseeks to recover its best level after crossing a hard time on a personal level.

After having left the way to Daniil Medvedev To advance in the Spanish capital, Ruud He gave details at the press conference on the mental health problems he had to overcome to return to his best level and contributed criticism of the ATP calendar.

“I do not want to delve into the subject too much, but the truth is that I have gone through some mental health problems this year, so I looked for professional help and has helped me a lot. Soon, I have noticed a great improvement, I feel that I am very good to have someone to talk about my feelings,” said former 2, who knew how to reach two Roland Garros finals and one of US Open between 2022 and 2023.

And it extended: “The life of tennis is not simple and there came a point where I was exceeded. Luckily, I feel good about myself, to wake up with illusion and a smile, and especially, I feel grateful for having been sincere with myself, being able to perceive that I needed help.”

“I felt as if I were a hamster in his wheel, he took many steps, but nothing progressed. The current calendar makes it possible to stop, I needed to get out of that spiral and reflect on my life, my feelings and the path in which I was. I have returned to the hamster wheel to which the circuit leads us, but with a much better mentality. Tennis is much more complicated than hitting the ball well.

This year, Ruud left Top 10 for the first time in four years for not being able to meet his best tennis. This new site in the ranks forced him to face the stars at earlier instances to what was normally accustomed, affecting his results.

Ruud’s complaint about the calendar in ATP

“There are many moments during the year in which you would like to have time to rest and think about other things that are not tennis. If you are among the 30 best in the world, with the current calendar you already know that you have to compete for 30 weeks a year and, if you do not, the penalties are very severe,” he said about the obligation to stay active so as not to lose places in the ranking.

And he continued: “The majority of players think that this is too much. The main objective of the tennis players is that we hear more. We have an impressive sport, but we need the season not so long and feel like more than a piece of a puzzle. It seems good to me that we are beginning to mobilize, I have hopes in the future.”

How are the semifinals of the Masters 1000 from Madrid

This Friday, May 2, the two semifinals of the Spanish Tournament will be played. At 11, Argentine time, Francisco Cerúando and Casper Ruud will open this instance, while Jack Draper and Lorenzo Musetti will confirm the final at 15.