Casper Ruud has officially withdrawn from the Wimbledon championships, according to the tournament’s official entry list.
The world No.16 has struggled with a knee injury in recent months and hasn’t played on the Tour since his second round loss at the French Open on May 26th. After that match, the Norwegian revealed that he had been hampered by pain in his knee for a few weeks but continued to keep playing.
“It’s been with me actually the whole clay season on and off,” Ruud told reporters in Paris.
“As we know, it’s a hectic clay season, and I decided to kind of push through it doing some anti-inflammatory pills and painkillers to try to get rid of it, which has helped to a certain degree but not enough.”
Ruud has previously admitted that he struggled with trying to take time off the sport due to its packed calendar and the rankings race.
“It’s kind of like a rat race when it comes to the rankings as well,” he said.
“You feel you’re obligated to play with certain rules that the ATP have set up with the mandatory events.”
Recently the three-time Grand Slam finalist announced his withdrawal from an ATP event in Mallorca which will get underway next week. In a video message published by the tournament on Friday, Ruud said he would ‘keep pushing’ to play at Wimbledon. There is yet to be any further public information provided about what has changed since he made that comment.
“Just a quick update from my side. I am back on court training. The knee is feeling quite a bit better but unfortunately not 100% ready to compete yet,” Ruud said in a video message posted X (formerly Twitter).
It is the first time Ruud has skipped a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open which he missed due to an ankle injury. He will be replaced in the draw by Elmer Moller.
Another top 20 player who has withdrawn from Wimbledon is France’s Arthur Fils, who is still recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back.
