Casper Ruud is usually one of the most mild-mannered players on the ATP Tour, but he recently criticized players who complain about the balls used at tournaments.
The Norwegian is currently trying to qualify for the year-end ATP Finals in Turin. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev have booked their spots. Taylor Fritz is also very likely to qualify at No. 5.
Novak Djokovic looks quite secure at No. 6, but he gave his rivals a lifeline by withdrawing from next week's Paris Masters. He is the reigning champion after beating Grigor Dimitrov in the final last year and has won the tournament seven times.
Ruud sits at No. 7 in the race to Turin. But his place is far from secure after losing in the quarterfinal of the Stockholm Open last week and in the opening round of the ongoing Swiss Indoors to Roberto Bautista Agut.
Those results were disappointing for this year's Barcelona Open champion, but one thing Ruud definitely will not do is blame the balls used at tournaments for any disappointments he endures.
Medvedev strongly criticized the balls during the Shanghai Masters. The 2021 US Open winner argued that the balls became slow too quickly and that it was very challenging to hit winners after a few games.
Other players do not like that tournaments often use different balls, believing it increases the likelihood of injuries due to their bodies having to consistently adjust to the variety of balls.
However, Ruud has no sympathy for players who complain about the balls and thinks those who do are often trying to generate attention even though the situation does not warrant it.
Speaking on the Nothing Major Podcast, Ruud said he was tired of hearing moaning about the balls and believes the protests from players arriving early for tournaments are particularly egregious.
"You see players complain about the balls all the time. I’m getting so tired of like ‘Oh, I feel my elbow… I feel this, that. I can’t produce power. It suits this player..’ Come on. Just play."
"For me what’s funny is some players come like 5 days in advance to practice. And I do it myself a lot of the times, unless you’re going from tournament to tournament. They string like 28 racquets to get the right tension. Then they come to the 4th round and start complaining about the balls."
"But it’s been the same balls for the past 9 days. What’s the point of bringing it up now to the umpire? Like what is he gonna change? ‘yeah, let me call Dunlop I’ll have them send over a can for you’. What’s the point? Just to make drama out of nothing?"
Ruud's remarks are fiery. They seem like a pretty pointed dig at Medvedev, but he is not the only man to express disapproval about the balls used at events.
The three-time Grand Slam runner-up has given his honest opinion on the subject, and it would be interesting to know how his comments go down in the locker room.