Casper Ruud lost early at this year's Roland Garros, but it was mostly due to physical discomfort that stopped him from competing at his best.
Ruud is one of the best clay-court players on the ATP Tour. He has played in two Roland Garros finals, and he is always a threat at every ATP Masters 1000 tournament on the red dirt.
This year, the Norwegian won the Madrid Open, but he then lost in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open in Rome, and already in the second round of Roland Garros. The player who beat him in the French capital was Nuno Borges.
It was clear that, during the match, Ruud was struggling with an injury, and after his loss, the ATP World No. 8 player explained why he kept playing on despite being injured.
He explained that he wasn't 100% healthy at any of the previous events, either, but because of how the ATP sets out rules, they indirectly force players to keep playing despite being injured.
"Well, it's kind of like a rat race when it comes to the rankings, as well. You feel you're obligated to play with certain rules that the ATP have set up with the mandatory events. You feel like you lose a lot if you don't show up and play, both economically, point-wise, ranking-wise and opportunity-wise."
For a player like Ruud, who thrives on clay courts, getting injured during that part of the season and missing tournaments would mean a big blow for the rest of his season.
"For me, I know these weeks and months are really important for the remainder of the year and for my career. Of course, if my leg is broken, I won't play. But it's tough anyways, especially when there's a time with mandatory events to skip them because the punishments are quite hard, in terms of everyone else will play, gain points, and you won't."
On top of that, the ATP's bonus system, which rewards players based on points earned at ATP 500 and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, is lowered if players miss these tournaments, which Ruud isn't a fan of.
"Also there's a certain bonus system set up that is reduced if you don't show up to the mandatory events. It's a questionable system because on one hand you don't want to show up injured, and you maybe give the spot to other one. I'm not sure if you're aware, but if you don't play a mandatory event, they cut 25% of your year-end bonus."
"You're kind of forcing players to show up injured or sick, or whatever, when that is not what I think is very fair. Anyways it's been deal-able, like I said. I've been able to deal with the pain. It hasn't been too bad. Some days worse than others. I'm just looking forward to not being on some painkillers for some days now (smiling). Let it really heal and rest and see where I'm at in a few weeks."
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