World No.3 Casper Ruud has wished Carlos Alcaraz again to well being however is aware of the Spaniard’s withdrawal from the Australian Open leaves two mighty alternatives.
First, to interrupt via and win a maiden grand slam title in Melbourne, and secondly, to take a seat on high of the game’s rankings as world No.1.
Alcaraz withdrew from the primary main of the season on Saturday citing a hamstring pressure.
Speaking from Auckland forward of the ATP match there, Ruud stated he was “sad to see” world No.1 Alacaraz miss out.
“We all wish him a speedy recovery. Tennis is more exciting with him playing tournaments,” the Norwegian stated.
Ruud was a 2022 breakout performer, leaping into the highest echelon with grand slam runs to the ultimate at Roland Garros, shedding to Rafael Nadal, and the US Open, falling to Alcaraz.
Alcaraz’s incapability to play in Melbourne means Ruud is sort of sure to be world No.1 following the Australian Open if he replicates these performances and makes one other slam closing.
ATP rankings are calculated based mostly on the variety of factors earned over a rolling 12-month interval.
Ruud did not play in Australia final 12 months after rolling an ankle on the eve of the match, so he’s defending no factors and has all the pieces to achieve.
He is at the moment 1000 factors behind Alcaraz, which means one other closing look will see Ruud overtake {the teenager}.
Nadal is defending 2000 factors – which means he should retain the Australian Open title to stay No.2 – and appears in peril of being overtaken by Ruud.
The different two doable world No.1s at match’s finish are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic, who will each must win and hope for different outcomes to go their approach.
“If there is ever a chance or time to maybe be close to being world No.1 it could be in the near future,” Ruud stated, declaring the rating “a big motivation and drive”.
However, the 24-year-old stated “to win a grand slam is to me a bigger dream and a bigger goal in my career”.
“It’s more important and a bigger achievement in my head and mind to win (a major) than be the world No.1.”
Ruud stated he opted to go to New Zealand to finish his Open preparation after the United Cup’s format solely provided him two assured matches.
Norway have been based mostly in Brisbane, the place Ruud beat Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro however misplaced to Matteo Berrettini.
Ruud stated he would take a month-long break from the tour after the Australian Open after he minimize quick his year-end break to tour South America with Nadal for a string of matches.
“When you have an offer to go with Rafa on such a special trip, an exhibition tour with him, it’s tough to say no. I mean, he was my childhood idol and hero,” he stated.
Ruud will resume his season in Acapulco on the finish of February after a block of conditioning work.
“My fitness coach is gonna look forward to the month he has with me pushing me to my limits,” he stated.
“I don’t look forward to it, but he will.”
