Casper Ruud didn't have many highlights in 2023, but one of them happened at the Estoril Open, which is why he's returning to the ATP 250 event.
The Estoril Open is a pretty popular event and has been for a long time. While most big names skip over it due to its place in the calendar, not the best admittedly, every year features a strong lineup with at least one great player.
This year, Casper Ruud couldn't wait to get back on clay after a miserable time on the US hard courts in March. The Norwegian struggled a lot this year due to his terrible offseason and didn't really find any kind of good tennis until this event.
Things went well in Estoril for Ruud as he was able to make his way to the finals and win the event, which ultimately remained his only title in 2023. He referenced that in his video message posted on the event's social media page, where he confirmed his participation next year in April.
Hey guys. It's Casper here. I just wanted to let you know I'm so excited to come back to Estoril next year for the Millenium Estoril Open. I had an incredible time this year. It was my only title this year so it meant a lot to play there and do well. So can't wait for April to see you back.
It makes sense for the defending champion to come back to a place where he played some good tennis last year. The fact that the event is played on clay, his preferred surface, certainly helped Ruud make the decision.
Ultimately, as Nick Kyrgios said, he likes those ATP 250s on clay, so it's only natural for him to play. Jokes aside, if you're in Estoril in April, you'll see Casper Ruud there in a title defense bid.
0 Comments