Casper Ruud will begin the 2025 season without a pivotal member of his team for the last 13 years.
The Norwegian is enjoying some time off after a long and grueling season. He ended 2024 at the ATP Finals, the tournament where he was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2022.
Ruud impressively reached the semifinals of the season-ending tournament for the third consecutive season. Victories against a sick Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev in the round-robin stage were enough to achieve that.
However, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner thrashed Ruud for the loss of just three games in the semifinal before overcoming Taylor Fritz in the final to win the title on home soil in Turin.
Although Ruud did not win a maiden Grand Slam or Masters 1000 title in 2024, he should still be proud of a solid season that saw him end at No. 6, one place ahead of Novak Djokovic, who withdrew from the ATP Finals.
One reason for Ruud's impressive endurance throughout the season is his fitness. The three-time Grand Slam runner-up has been one of the physically strongest players on the ATP Tour for a few years.
Ruud's hard work to become fit did not begin when he became a professional. Marcel Da Cruz became Ruud's fitness trainer when he was just 13 years old, and the pair have enjoyed a long and successful stint together.
That is why fans will be shocked by the news that Da Cruz has decided to leave Ruud's team to pursue other challenges. Although the fitness coach does not rule out working with Ruud again, the 2022 US Open finalist must find a new fitness trainer.
"Marcel Da Cruz has chosen to end his position at Team Ruud. Da Cruz has been part of the team since Casper was 13 years old and has a played a key role in all 12 titles that Ruud has won on the tour."
"As a physical trainer, Da Cruz has been responsible for putting together Ruud's training programme, working with recovery and injury prevention, everything to ensure that Ruud is in the best possible physical shape to face the world's elite."
"After a long and successful period, Da Cruz has to decided to seek new challenges, but he does not rule out a future collaboration with Team Ruud. Casper Ruud thanks Marcel Da Cruz for his invaluable effort and dedication over the years."
After those general details were revealed in the statement, Ruud personally thanked Da Cruz for being an invaluable part of the team for many years, wished him well for the future, and hopes to work with the fitness coach again.
"Marcel will be missed in the team. He has been an incredibly important part of my development as a player and as a person. I would like to thank him for the last 13 years of hard work, dedication, and support. I wish him all the best in the future and hope we have the opportunity to work together again in the future."
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