Casper Ruud won his opening match at the 2023 US Open, but it was his press conference that ook all the spotlight.
The modern realm of tennis isn't limited to grueling matches on court; it extends to the virtual battlegrounds of social media. Fans like to be active on social media, but players also have access to it, like everyone else, and that means that also they can read other opinions.
Opening week of the US Open in New York witnessed Ruud's victory over Emilio Nava and after the match, the Norwegian was busy answering some questions. While tennis enthusiasts the world over keep up with their favorite stars on social media platforms, many are privy to what goes on behind the screens.
Ruud’s frank disclosure provided a brief yet compelling window into this world. Twitter, for most, remains a space to express opinions and engage in discourse. But for athletes of Ruud's stature, it also becomes a platform subjected to endless scrutiny, unsolicited advice, and often, unchecked criticism.
The 'so-called tennis experts' Ruud mentions have become staples of the Twitter ecosystem. With no professional tennis background, many claim to dissect players' strategies, critique performances, and predict outcomes with authoritative tones. For Ruud, this noise is more than just a distraction; it's a test of his patience and tolerance.
"Yeah, it's this new, I guess, feed where you can put, like, I don't follow that many people on Twitter or X, but you can get, like, content that is kind of based for you, in a way, based on who you follow and what you have done in the past."
Yet, it's not all grim. The silver lining in this virtual cloud is the genuine fans, the ones who admire, support, and even defend their sports idols. Ruud's Twitter presence, described as light, funny, and engaging, is a testament to his desire to connect authentically with these fans.
"So I read a bunch of these, like, so-called tennis experts and their opinions, and it's just insane. It annoys me in a way, because it's just -- I feel like if you haven't played professional in the past, most of them have no clue what they are talking about."
"Their opinions, for fans, if anyone listens to what I'm saying, I would just not take more than maybe 5% of what so-called tennis experts on Twitter say as good info because it's just not the way it goes."
He might not frequent the platform or indulge in every debate, but when he does interact, it's evident that he cares. A smile, a witty comeback, or just a simple acknowledgment – these are the moments that make the platform worthwhile for athletes and fans too.
"I could probably reply to many other things, but I just leave it, because it's just interesting to see how people just exaggerate all the time on social media about anything. You go from being the best player in the world to the worst player in the history from one week to another, and it shouldn't be taken serious."
However, spending too much time on social media can be perilous. Ruud recognizes this tightrope walk. In a world where public perception can oscillate between "the best player in the world" and "the worst player in history" within a span of mere days, grounding oneself becomes crucial.
"But it's new modern world, I guess. Sometimes I like to interact, because, you know, I feel like sometimes my opinion can matter, but it's more I have to be really annoyed to actually take the time to actually reply to someone (smiling)."
While Ruud tries to take most things on the platform with a smile, he candidly admits that sometimes the comments get under his skin. And who could blame him? After all, behind every athlete's public facade is a human being with emotions, aspirations, and vulnerabilities.
"But, yeah, it's a wicked place to spend too much time, I think. Because also reading about yourself is not really nice always. I don't know. I take it with a smile, but sometimes I just, yeah, I guess I can't control myself. It's easy to kind of communicate to other fans or haters, if you want to call them that. It's worth it sometimes, but it can be dangerous to spend too much time there, that's for sure."
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