Casper Ruud left Roland Garros with his head held high despite losing in the final against a Djokovic playing for history. The Serbian gave him almost no choice despite how close the first set was, settled in a tie break. A key moment of the game, where the young Norwegian’s defeat began to take shape. Last season he lost to Nadal, now to Djokovic. But Ruud will come back stronger.
Herculean effort: “Djokovic gives you almost nothing. To get a point you have to be at a superlative level. I gave everything but it’s still not enough.”
The first set: “I had a good start, partly thanks to Djokovic’s mistakes, which could leave with some doubts. It was positive to get 3-0, but he quickly minimized his mistakes. He has a great ability to read every game situation, fix the balls and put a lot of pressure on you. I think my game plan is good, but he knows better than anyone how to compete in these finals.”
Three Grand Slam finals lost: “I don’t have anyone to talk to, I don’t know if I need to. It can always be interesting to have someone advise you. I am not closed to that idea. Any ending, no matter who it’s against, is complicated. Against Rafa Nadal at Roland Garros, of course. Against Alcaraz in the US Open as well. And Novak is playing to win his 23rd Grand Slam. Other competitors may be more affordable.
The experience: “Next year, people and rivals will remember that Casper Ruud reached two consecutive Roland Garros finals. I got respect. I’m in the race to win a Grand Slam. I don’t think it’s that far but I have to work hard”.
Final reflection: “I’ve learned that feeling pressure is good. In terms of ranking, going up one position or down another doesn’t make much difference. The important thing is to enter the top ten. It’s been two great weeks of tennis. I hope that in the near future he will become a tougher player to play against. I hope to have better experiences at Roland Garros in the future.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
