Ruud attended the top sports high school for young people in Bærum (NTG-U) at the time, and was given the task of writing down two dreams and one realistic goal for his career. Then it became: Become top 50 in the world rankings in 2025 (goal) Win a Grand Slam (dream) Become the best in the world (dream) This is what Aftenposten wrote in 2020. Three years before that, he has gone far beyond his goal, and he is one struggle to reach their dream. As a young man, he did not expect to play a Grand Slam final on live TV. He did not think it was realistic. They are so good the tennis players who usually play the finals. Nor was he a “super child”, as he himself portrays those who excel internationally in junior tournaments around. But he stood out in other areas. In many ways we can say that Ruud was leading his time. – He has been quite unique, says Erik Bertrand Larssen to news, who worked closely with Ruud for eight years. A curious child It is both historical and quite sensational that a Norwegian has reached the final in Roland-Garros. It has never happened before, and it is 23-year-old Casper Ruud who has made it happen. HUGE: Casper Ruud on the gravel in Paris. Now he is ranked number eight in the world. Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP Now he will play against his biggest role model, legend Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard who made six-year-old Ruud sit glued in front of the TV screen, when Nadal, who was then 19 years old, played his first Grand Slam final. Ruud thinks of that final as it was yesterday. That final was when it really started for Ruud. That was when he decided that this was something he also wanted to do. But it is not Nadal who should have all the credit for being a serious tennis player, it is another man who should have. – Ever since I was young, my father has helped me a lot with being serious, and thinking that every training is important. Even though it is the last four years I have been on the tour, I have lived a top sports life since I was 12-13 years old, and said I would bet, says Casper Ruud to news. – It has been our many years before this. In a way, I have lived a life of ten years to come here. Dad Christian Ruud took action when the son said he wanted to bet, and called an acquaintance. TO SPAIN: When Ruud was 15, he traveled to Alicante to train with Pedro Rico. He came up with many useful tips, which have influenced Ruud’s career to the positive. Photo: PRIVATE The “invisible” fight That phone call led to 14-year-old Casper Ruud stepping up in the office of Erik Bertrand Larssen, who has worked as a mental trainer for many years. He showed up alone. – It surprised me. It was very unique then, that such a young practitioner wants mental training. And usually when I meet such young people, the parents tend to be at the first meeting. But he came alone, and I thought he was brave, Larssen recalls. It was the start of an eight-year collaboration, in a team with a curious and “hungry” child, which Larssen thinks he was. LARGE TEAM: Casper Ruud with physical trainer Marcel Da Cruz (left), trainer Pedro Clar, father and trainer Christian Ruud, and mental trainer Erik Bertrand Larssen. Here from the French Open in 2019. Photo: Erik Johansen / NTB The theme for the work was divided into two. One thing was competition, but Larssen wanted Ruud to think extra about what choice he made every day. Ruud wanted to be in the top 50 in the world, and to do that, he had to think about the 3,000 other players his age who wanted the same thing. How could he be better than them? – I brought up early with Casper that it is in the four days the battle is on. I said that: if you are going to be one of the world’s best players in ten years, which is these days, then you have to think that there is an invisible battle between you and the others who are at your level, says Larssen. 14-year-old Ruud had to think about the quality of sleep, diet, recovery and rest, and what words he said to himself every day. – If you manage to pull away from them in terms of quality on the choices you make, a few centimeters or a few tricks every day, then you can do it. What was so fun about Ruud, Larssen reminisces, was that he sought advice despite the fact that his career was going well. Usually, practitioners seek help when things go awry, or their self-esteem is low. – He understood already as a fourteen-year-old that this is a game that is won every day. Now everyone looks at him, but it is because of the invisible battle every day, says Larssen. Targeted It has proven to be beneficial at a later age. When Ruud moved on from the semifinal against Marin Cilic in Roland-Garros, there were some drops about how he works with the mindset to turn the match to his advantage. BIG: Casper Ruud when the final ticket was a fact. Photo: BENOIT TESSIER / Reuters – I did not want to put too much pressure on myself. Then one can get excited and nervous. So in the whole match until the last ball was played, I was in the third round in Roland-Garros, and not in a semifinal. It worked very well. The question is whether I also have to do it in the final, says Ruud. Today, assistant coach Pedro Clar believes that the mentality itself is Ruud’s absolute strength, and that it makes it extra easy to work with a practitioner like him. – One of his strengths is the way he is as a person. He works hard and will always improve. One of the biggest things he has changed is to threaten himself. That he believes he can become a really good player, says Clar. And that personality, Larssen thinks, is the reason why there have been few replacements in the roles in Team Ruud. CLOSE UP: Pedro Clar is never far away when Casper Ruud trains. Photo: Erik Johansen / NTB Makes others want to perform Dad Christian Ruud, Pedro Clar, physical trainer Marcel Da Cruz, manager Venke Aure and mom Lele Ruud, are some of the people in Team Ruud. – He stands alone on the track, but if you want to be very good at something, you have to have a great team around you. My impression is that he is good at making them in Nadal’s academy, physical trainer, mother, father and girlfriend feel good, and that he cares. And then it is easy to do the extra for him, says Larssen. Clar can confirm that. – He’s so humble. Always ready to do what I say, and ready to get better. When we go on the track together, it’s easy. He is always calm and will get better every day. As a trainer, that is the most important thing, he says. SMILE: Christian Ruud and Pedro Clar in the stands when Casper Ruud got ready for the final in Roland-Garros. Photo: THOMAS SAMSON / AFP – Fantastic When news asks Ruud’s closest about how the tennis player is as a person, it is a unison opinion. – Casper is a professional. He has a very nice personality, is relaxed and humble, and always positive to learn more. As I always say, I like that good people achieve their dreams, and achieve success. I love on behalf of mom and dad. I know them very well. They are a very healthy family, and wonderful people. It’s no big surprise for me, says Rafael Nadal to news. MANY WINS: Rafael Nadal has won 13 Grand Slam tournaments in his career. Photo: THOMAS SAMSON / AFP Sports manager Pelle Fridell at Wang top sports, has followed Ruud since he was ten years old. He says the same thing. – He is an incredibly sympathetic gentleman on the field. Always fair, says Fridell to news. Dream final On Sunday, Casper Ruud will meet his biggest role model on the gravel in Paris. He could not have asked for a better, first final. – It’s something a tennis player dreams of when he’s young. When one after a quarter gets older, it goes from being a dream, to becoming a goal. But it is still a dream to play a final. It’s something I’ve always seen on TV, says Ruud. THE LEGEND AND THE TEACHER: Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud. Photo: Margret Helland Uncle Lenn Solheim has butterflies in his stomach. He is proud of his nephew. – I think he will go out and enjoy himself, and hopefully play the tennis of his life. He meets his biggest idol at the biggest stadium on gravel. It’s a dream finale. I think he’s going to bite off. We are just going to enjoy it, and everyone has to take it inwards. Sit there and watch the historic feat, that these two will meet, says Solheim to news. He thinks it is surreal. – Now he has come to the top level. And it’s just so nice, for everyone. The final between Casper Ruud and Rafael Nadal in Roland-Garros starts on Sunday at 15.00 You can find it on news sport radio. Casper Ruud moves to Mallorca in Spain to train with world star Rafael Nadal. The collaboration gives quick results and within a few months, the Norwegian breaks the magical top-100 limit. news-sporten has been allowed to take part in the 20-year-old’s journey to the top in the world sport of tennis.
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Took a unique step to get a head start – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
