Casper Ruud is refusing to compare his career to other top players as he looks ahead to the Rome final.
The Norwegian thrashed Luciano Darderi 6-1 6-1 to reach the Rome final for the first time in his career.
Despite winning Madrid last year and previously reaching the final at Roland Garros, this is the first time Ruud will compete at the showpiece event in Rome.
According to Ruud, a big part of the reason why that is to do with his forehand, “My forehand seemed to be causing problems for the opponent. I think I’m playing pretty solid from my backhand side,” Ruud stated in his press conference.
“In Madrid when I lost to Blockx, I was a little bit all over the place with the forehand and was not creating any problems from my backhand corner. Here in Rome I’ve been returning really well and setting up the points really well after that. I’m happy with how I’m feeling on court. It’s sort of easier to hit more full swings when you’re in Rome than in Madrid because the ball doesn’t fly as much.
“You feel like it goes down and in. It’s a good feeling obviously. I think return and baseline game is even better than what it was in Madrid.”
The trajectory of Ruud has been an interesting one but the multiple-time Grand Slam finalist has yet to win a Grand Slam title.
Speaking about his trajectory, Ruud has refused to compare himself to other players and is continuing to carve out his own journey, “Sometimes you have to look at yourself in the mirror and realize it wasn’t maybe meant to be in some matches that you lose or seeing how there was sort of some openings for someone to kind of take over the throne after the big three when they seemed towards the end of their domination,” Ruud explained.
“Obviously Novak is still around, still has a chance in my eyes to win the biggest titles when he’s on. I was one of the players that kind of entered my name into the discussion for a few years. I was not able to follow up. I was over- and outplayed by others. Then you have Jannik and Carlos who have become sort of the unicorns that they have become. At times I can be at home and wish that it was me and not them.
“At the same time I’m realistic in thinking that they have something special in them. They also work very, very hard. It’s not just because they’re talented or this or that that they’re so good, they also work very hard. Their curve has been far better than mine in the last years. Has it been frustrating? A bit.
“But you cannot think too much about the other players. You have to stay in your own lane in this sport, try to focus on yourself as much as you can. It’s an individual sport after all. Comparing yourself to other players I think is the biggest mistake you can do.”
The only focus for Ruud is his own game as he will take on either Jannik Sinner on Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final.
The match is currently in the third set and will resume on Saturday with Sinner leading 4-2 in the deciding set.
Ruud’s record against Sinner isn’t the best but the Norwegian isn’t too worried about that heading into the final, “Well, I just have to try to approach it as any other match, try not to think about the big wave in front kind of with all the momentum he’s building, all the confidence and the records that he’s kind of building and breaking,” Ruud said.
“At the end of the day he’s human. I have to try to think that way as much as I can. Last year I was kind of blown out of the court by him. We will both remember it, of course. I hope that’s not the case. I will just try to stay in my lane, stay focused on the things I’m doing well, know that against him you have to not raise your level but two or three times in order to hang with him.
“That’s the goal I will think about for tomorrow in practice and the match.”
Ruud is 4-0 down against Sinner in the head-to-head while against Medvedev he is 3-1 down.
