World No. 7 Casper Ruud explained why he offered support to WTA world No. 2, Poland`s Iga Swiatek, during the tournament in Madrid.
Ruud posted a message to Swiatek on social media after her semifinal defeat to Coco Gauff. The Norwegian wrote: “Hey Iga, don`t hang your head! Like millions of others, I love watching your game. Today wasn`t your day, but you inspire many and will come back even stronger.”
“I saw a video from the court where she looked very disappointed. I don`t know what she was feeling or what was on her mind at that moment, but it seemed to me that she needed some kind of support. So I tried to lift her spirits a bit,” Ruud stated.
He continued, “She is an incredible player – and it`s not just her: women`s tennis is very exciting right now. Sabalenka is dominating, Iga has already won five Grand Slams at such a young age, Coco is third in the world. They are very interesting to watch.”
“I watched a bit of the women`s final, so yes, I follow women`s tennis a little. I find Coco`s matches very interesting. I like both Coco and Iga because they play powerfully and aggressively, move well, and can slide. I think it`s great that women have also taken their physical abilities to a new level,” he added.
“I enjoy following the development of their game. I think this year`s `Roland Garros` will be unpredictable for both men and women,” Ruud said at a press conference following his victory in Madrid.
