Ruud on Facing “A wall that shoots hundred-mile-an-hour balls at you” in Rome

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday Might 15, 2025

Casper Ruud ran right into a model of Jannik Sinner that every one tennis gamers hope to keep away from on Thursday in Rome. The model of Sinner that waltzes via factors, video games and units on cruise management, as his pictures ricochet previous his opponents for clear, jaw-dropping winners.

Ultimately the Norwegian, among the finest clay-courters of his era, had no reply, and he answered questions in regards to the match as if he was nonetheless delirious from the expertise of attempting to take factors, not to mention a single recreation, towards the fast-firing Italian No.1.

“It was like taking part in a wall that shoots hundred-mile-an-hour balls at you on a regular basis,” Ruud informed reporters. “Every little thing else that got here out of his racquet and all through the entire match, as nicely, looks like 100 miles an hour plus. Each single shot from the forehand, from the backhand. Even on my pictures that I really feel at occasions are fairly heavy, it comes again simply firing.

“It is simply immensely spectacular. That is actually all I can say.”

Casper Ruud on going through Sinner in the present day:

“It was like taking part in a wall that shoots hundred-mile-an-hour balls at you on a regular basis.”

— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) May 15, 2025

Ruud had a nine-match successful streak that took him via the Madrid title and into in the present day’s quarterfinal in Rome, and he was displaying nice type on his favourite floor. Actually, he nonetheless is displaying nice type – it merely was not close to nearly as good because the mind-blowing tennis that Sinner can – and did – produce on Thursday night.

Ruud admitted that it was entertaining to see the sport performed at such a excessive degree, even when he was the one being victimized by it

“I believe it was extra enjoyable than something, though I misplaced 0 and 1. You simply have a look at the man and say, ‘That is sort of, yeah, next-level shit’ – excuse my language (laughter) – however I do not know what else to say. It was nearly enjoyable to witness on the identical time.”

Ruud will nonetheless take some momentum to Paris after a profitable stint in Europe. He received his first Masters title in Madrid and returned to the Prime-10. He’s now 24-7 on the season. All that continues to be is for him to keep away from Sinner within the Roland-Garros draw for so long as attainable.

“In fact, I want it was a better match. I want I might have given the individuals and the followers an extended, nearer match,” he stated. “However I believe that I used to be there able to play, however he was simply even readier. Each space of my good pictures he matched with even higher again. I could not re-answer with a greater shot. That was simply the story of the match.”