Norway’s world No.3 Casper Ruud grinned when requested concerning the standing of his feud with Nick Kyrgios.
“I didn’t receive a Christmas card from him nor he a Chrissie one from me but if we see each other we can say hello. There are no hard feelings,” stated Ruud on Wednesday at a Norwegian workforce media convention forward of the United Cup.
The feud began of their first assembly on the Italian Open in 2019 when Kyrgios threw a chair and was defaulted. After his win Ruud labelled Kyrgios “an idiot on the court” and stated he ought to be banned from tennis for six months.
The Australian hit again on Twitter, daring Ruud to say it to his face and stating that he’d “rather watch paint dry then watch you play tennis”.
At Indian Wells this yr Kyrgios beat Ruud 6-4 6-4 and seemed straight down the digicam after the win and stated: “I hear no talking now. None.”
The 24-year-old Ruud conceded there had been “a little feud” however added that it had thawed.
“You don’t want to have a feud going on against him because he will probably want to bring his A game whenever he plays you,” he stated.
“He came to me in the Laver Cup last year in Boston and congratulated me after my victory so he has been positive and cheering me on the last year or so.
“It was (good) to see him achieve this nicely at Wimbledon (this yr) and training himself to the ultimate.”
Ruud stated Kyrgios was “a enjoyable character” and looked forward to a possible “enjoyable match” between the pair this summer, although it won’t be in the United Cup after Kyrgios’ withdrawal from the Australian team on Wednesday.
Ruud was acknowledged for his fair play when he was selected by fellow ATP players as the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award winner for 2022.
“It is good to be ‘ sport’ as you’ll say right here in Australia,” he stated.
“I get pissed off quite a bit myself. It will not be like I’m some sort of angel on court docket however I assume all year long I’ve been in a position to behave ok to get this recognition from the gamers.”
Ruud missed the 2022 Australian Open after rolling his ankle a day before the tournament started but he has enjoyed a superb year, reaching the final of both the French Open and US Open.
He said he was excited about taking that form and confidence into the Australian Open next month.
“First we’re right here within the United Cup and we hope we will play nicely as a workforce,” he stated.
