NITTO ATP FINALS

November 20, 2022

Casper Ruud

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

C. RUUD/A. Rublev

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I would ask the emotions in this game. How do you manage with the situation when everything goes so well but you can't lose your focus on the game?

CASPER RUUD: Well, I guess I'm a player and a guy who shows quite few emotions on the court. But obviously I feel more than what I show. That goes both ways, both when I'm frustrated and maybe excited.

Things were going so well for me, was going almost too well at some point, because I was winning, like, many games in a row. At 6-2, 4-Love, we played maybe around 50 minutes or something. I didn't imagine I would be in that situation. But, of course, I take it.

Of course, you're excited, but you try to keep your focus, obviously serve well. That's the most important thing here. You can get some free points with that.

Yeah, I don't know. I think the Italian fans are great. I think they wanted to watch more tennis I understand because it was going quite fast.

It didn't bother me at all. I always have great support when I'm in Italy. Of course, I understand they bought a ticket and they want to be there for all the night.

I want to win as fast as possible, but they want a long match. I'm happy that I was able to win in two sets.

Q. You can say that you tried not to see everything around you?

CASPER RUUD: Yeah. You are focused on the game. You can hear the crowd, of course, but at least when they are against you, not against you, but of course they were cheering for Rublev a little bit more in the end. That's okay. I was leading, up on the score, so no problem.

Q. You mentioned you don't show a lot of emotion both on the court or really off the court that much either. Is there a sort of fire burning inside you? As you approach the match tomorrow, are you happy to be in this final or after the year you've had are you pretty sick of losing big matches like you did in Paris and in New York?

CASPER RUUD: Yeah, I mean, I guess I'm not sick of that yet. Of course, it would be great for me and for I guess the future of my career to try to win one of these big finals.

Tomorrow I know there will be a tough challenge yesterday. Novak in a final on an indoor hard court here is some of the toughest player you can play in the history of our sport.

I know that I will need to come up with something I have not done yet against him because I haven't been able to beat him. Just try to believe that I can win. It's not going to be easy, obviously, but I will give it a shot, my best shot.

I always give my best any match I play. I guess also maybe that's who I am, not showing too many emotions, because I'm always so focused on the game.

Of course, I know that tennis is an entertainment. For many people coming to watch, it's also show. For me, it's more about sort of the business side of it. I want to try to win. If I need to focus on bringing a show to the court, I will not be able to play as well as I want to.

I guess that's why sometimes I'm a little bit calmer than maybe other players, because I'm just focused. It's all about business for me. I will try to think that tomorrow, as well. No matter what happens, I will try to win as many points as I can, as many games, hopefully the match in the end. But I know it will be very, very difficult.

Q. Be honest, would you have ever thought two Grand Slam finals and the final here? How much have you surprised yourself?

CASPER RUUD: Yeah, I think I surprised myself for sure. I have four finals that stand out for me this year, which are Miami Open and Roland Garros, US Open, now this. Three of four are on hard court. I guess that's surprising. Even to reach a Roland Garros final is surprising because when you start the year, that's not something you think about.

Was a tough start of the year for me because I twisted my ankle in Australia the day before my match in the tournament, so I had to pull out. I guess when I was on the plane back home, I did not think I would be sitting here in this position.

I guess just through hard work and patience and keeping my head high, trying to stay positive no matter what, I guess I've been able to reach this level, this situation. Of course, I'm very happy and proud about it.

Yeah, it's surprising. I think when the draw was made here, I guess I was the least favorite to reach the final, I think I can say for sure, compared to all the other great players who I consider are maybe better hard court indoor players than myself.

There are small margins in this sport. I've been able to come through, fight through, be in the final, so I'm very happy about it.

Q. You've already been No. 2 in the world in the past. You should be back there soon. People say when you are No. 2, your next goal comes to No. 1. Can you confirm that being No. 1 can only be your next target?

CASPER RUUD: Yeah, I think for sure. I've been able to reach new levels of my ranking in the last two, three years, climbing steady and steady. I was close to getting to No. 1, and I didn't. But it gave me a motivation and belief that it can happen in the future, for sure.

I mean, I don't know what else to say. I will try to keep pushing for it. There are many players that I think are great players on the ATP Tour fighting for the big tournaments. In the future I guess the No. 1 spot will be a little bit more open for more players to get there maybe one time in their career, and I hope I can be one of them.

I think we've seen it this year with Daniil and Alcaraz have been able to get there. I hope for sure in the future I can be there. It's no guarantee. The odds are not great to become world No. 1, but I will give it my best try.

Q. You've flown a ridiculous amount of miles this year. Now you're going to Latin America. Any concern about that?

CASPER RUUD: Yeah, good question. It's something that I was honored to be invited to the Latin American tour with Rafa.

I'm not going to say it's going to be very demanding. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Let's see when I get back. I still will have many days to recover from the jet lag and whatever.

Yeah, I guess we are more used to it than maybe other people, to travel around, fly a lot. The jet lag is luckily easier going there, but when you get back is where it sort of kills you.

Luckily I'll be in good time to have some good practice days and relax a little bit before we head to Australia. But, yeah, let's see how the body reacts to it.

I was not able to do (indiscernible) in Asia this year because I found it difficult coming from the States to Europe, then I had Laver Cup, Davis Cup, then straight to Asia which I found very difficult. Hopefully I can have learned something from that trip.

Yeah, I think I'll just be very happy in a way when this tournament is over and the Latin American tour is over because I can just breathe out and be a normal person for a couple of weeks before a new season awaits.

Yeah, I think I should be fine. I sleep quite well at night, so I think it should be fine.

Q. We know clay is your favorite surface, but how comfortable are you this week on this surface?

CASPER RUUD: Yeah, I can still say that I feel more comfortable hitting rallies on clay than what I do here because it's so fast. You won't find that many rallies. At least that's how I feel.

I feel comfortable in my serve. I get a lot of free points when I'm serving well when you don't get on clay, for instance. There are many things that are pros and cons on both surfaces.

I've been feeling the ball surprisingly well here. I love the balls. Dunlop ATP balls, I've always had a good feel for them. The court plays fast.

I guess also you feel like you're moving quite well this week, and that also gives you confidence to be in the right positions to set up every shot in the right way, most of the shots in the right way, if you're there in good time with the legs behind the ball.

Yeah, I feel quite comfortable. Still, I would rather play rallies on clay because you have more time, you can spin the ball more. But, yeah, I guess of the other players, I have been able to feel more comfortable.