Growing up, Casper Ruud said ‘no’ to temptation and ‘yes’ to national history.

The 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier earlier this year won the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires to become the first Norwegian to earn an ATP Tour title. He also ascended to No. 34 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in February, the highest standing of anyone in his country’s history. But Ruud’s journey has not come without sacrifices.

“When you turn 15, 16, your friends maybe start to party a little bit and you’re maybe tempted to try to go once or twice, but I never did it. I never touched alcohol. Those are choices normal people may think are a bit tough or hard to say no to going out or being with friends,” Ruud told ATP Uncovered presented by Peugeot. “Every weekend in Norway, it’s usual to go to your cabin or summer house or whatever the season is, but every weekend me and my father went out to the courts and played at least six, seven hours. I think those were the kind of choices that made me a step ahead of my competitors, in Norway at least, for some years.”

It helped that Ruud had a role model to look up to in his father, Christian Ruud, who reached the second-highest FedEx ATP Ranking of any Norwegian in history: World No. 39.

“He was the guy who put Norway on the tennis map a little bit… we had a small tennis court in our garden, so he took me there to play ever since I could walk,” Ruud recalled. “I was really young and I did a bunch of other sports as well, but eventually tennis was the one I enjoyed the most. When I was 12, I put all the other sports aside and focussed only on my tennis.”

Although the elder Ruud enjoyed success on the ATP Tour, he knew that didn’t guarantee the same for his son, and he made sure Casper maintained his focus.

“My father is a very nice and funny guy, but also strict whenever we’re on court, and strict with me always trying to do the right choices and being serious, even from a young age,” Ruud said. “I think it’s paying off a little bit now at least. I’ve taken a lot of choices and decisions that weren’t always as easy, but I had to do it because of my career.

“It was tough sometimes to get up on Saturday and Sunday and train for three, four hours… my father also guided me and advised me to do it, I believed in him, and it’s been paying off, and of course I’m very grateful now.”

Ruud’s home base since September 2018 has been the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, so it’s fitting that the 21-year-old looks up to the Spaniard and how he carries himself on court.

“I think that I would be happy if people called me humble, a good fighter,” Ruud said. “I look up to Rafa a lot and people know him as very humble and a good fighter. Of course I’m not trying to be just like him, but I’m looking at the stuff that I like with Rafa, I’m looking at the stuff that I like with Federer or Djokovic and of course I’m trying to bring that into my own game.”

Ruud cracked the Top 100 of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time last March, and now he has put himself in strong position inside the Top 50. But he is focussed on continuing to improve, and not looking back.

“It’s the tough thing about tennis: You can be really happy one day, but then the day after is a new match, a new opportunity. You can either lose or win. If you lose, you’ll be disappointed. If you win, you’ll be even more happy,” Ruud said. “[There’s] not too much time to celebrate or take off, either.”

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi is making sure that Pakistan’s daily workers are not forgotten. Through his foundation Stop War Start Tennis, Qureshi has committed to financially supporting ration bags for 1,000 families that have been unable to work and earn their daily sustenance due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Each ration bag consists of flour, rice, oil, grains, tea, milk and soap, and can feed a family of five. One ration bag costs 3,500 rupees, or approximately $45. 3.5 million rupees have been raised for the cause, with Stop War Start Tennis contributing 1.5 million rupees to make sure those in need receive their groceries.

“I am very thankful that I am able to raise awareness and donations to this most important cause,” Qureshi said. “I thank the ATP Tour for giving me a platform to voice these important efforts and the RIZQ Foundation for being the link between the needy and those that can afford to help in these difficult times.”

Qureshi has been going door to door to Lahore’s most needy citizens delivering the ration bags. Qureshi teamed up with Pakistan’s RIZQ Foundation a, “people-powered movement united to end hunger”. Qureshi has provided updates on social media, saying that 500 ration bags have already been delivered.

“Our doctors, nurses, medical staff, army, rangers, security forces, police, media [are] working as a frontline to fight against the coronavirus pandemic and trying to keep us all safe from this virus,” Qureshi wrote on Instagram. “We as a nation all have to work together as a backline to help the needy, poor, daily wagers, and make sure nobody goes hungry during these tough times.”

Kindly donate Rs.1000 @shizahassanofficial will match every donation and #stopwarstarttennis will add Rs.1500 to this noble cause.
Please make your donations at:
FAYSAL BANK LIMITED, LAHORE, PAKISTAN
Swift Code: FAYSPKKA
Acct no.: 0457150900225401
Acct: STOP WAR START TENNIS

— Aisam ul Haq Qureshi (@aisamhqureshi) March 24, 2020

Qureshi’s Stop War Start Tennis has received multiple ATP ACES For Charity grants, and twice he has been honoured as Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year, sharing the recognition with Amir Hadad in 2002 and Rohan Bopanna in 2010.

Learn More About Qureshi’s Charity Work

– Reporting contributed by Robert Davis

Andre Agassi didn’t know what hit him.

In their first ever meeting, Marcelo Rios blasted Agassi off the court in the 1998 Miami Masters 1000 final, winning 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. It wasn’t that close. Rios hit more than double the winners (46 to 22), and only faced one break point in the first set, while Agassi totaled 12 for the match.

Agassi must have felt like he was playing a left-handed version of himself, as Rios parked himself on the baseline for the afternoon and clubbed groundstroke winners at will from start to finish. Rios ascended to No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings with the stunning victory.

1. Rios’ Forehand
The Chilean possesses such fluid, languid technique on his forehand with sublime balance that at first glance it appears he is putting very little effort into the stroke. And then the ball explodes off the strings and you just stand there and watch it go right by you.

Rios’ forehand was the star of the show as he crushed 19 forehand groundstroke winners and one forehand return winner. Agassi, by comparison, only managed five forehand groundstroke winners and two forehand return winners. This 20-7 mismatch set the tone for the battle more than any other dynamic.

Rios’ primary baseline strategy was to initially construct baseline exchanges through the Ad court, pitting his lethal, lefty forehand against Agassi’s backhand. At the first sign of a short ball, Rios stepped inside the baseline and ripped the forehand winner the other way, out wide through the Deuce court.

Overall, Rios hit 13 forehand winners wide through the Deuce court and seven through the Ad court. Rios used the Ad court as the “assist”, and then switched to the Deuce court as the knock-out punch. Rios put on a masterclass of “freezing” Agassi with his forehand because Agassi had no idea which direction the next laser beam was going.

1. Rios’ Serve
This was one of the best serving days Rios could hope for. Consider the following numbers for both players.

Rios was always a step ahead with first serve location, especially going against the lefty grain in the Deuce court by serving a lot out wide. He won a staggering 13/14 first serve points going wide in the Deuce court to Agassi’s forehand return, including five aces, catching Agassi sitting on the typical lefty location of slice serves down the T.

In the Ad court, Rios won 65 per cent (11/17) with the wide slider and 70 per cent (7/10) mixing down the T. The blend was everything against one of the best returners our game has ever seen.

3. Serve +1 Performance

A primary reason Rios only faced one break point for the match was that he immediately followed up his serve with a Serve +1 forehand much more than Agassi did.

Serve +1 Forehands
•Rios = 63% Serve +1 Forehands / Won 70%
•Agassi = 43% Serve +1 Forehands / Won 56%

A specific derivative of the match Rios targeted was returning to Agassi’s backhand, which would then typically come back cross court to Rios’ forehand, where he could establish early control of the point. This strategy was especially potent against Agassi’s second serve.

Agassi 2nd Serve / Serve +1 Performance
•Agassi 2nd Serve +1 Forehands = Won 56% (5/9)
•Agassi 2nd Serve +1 Backhands = Won 17% (4/23)

Rios directed 72 per cent (23/32) of second-serve returns at Agassi’s backhand, and won 83 per cent (19/23) of those points.

Baseline Performance

Very rarely has Agassi been outgunned in a baseline-to-baseline exchange, but Rios got the better of him on this hot Sunday afternoon in Miami.

Baseline Points Won (Both players at baseline when point ends)
•Rios Baseline Points Won = 54% (87)
•Agassi Baseline Points Won = 46% (75)

It was a masterful display from Rios from start to finish. It was as though he stole Agassi’s playbook and delivered it back to him with interest in a left-handed version.

Jamie Delgado, says that former World No. 1 Andy Murray was close to making a comeback, prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic suspended ATP Tour events last month.

Speaking this week to ATP Tennis Radio, Delgado admitted, “Andy and I were practising a couple of weeks ago on the hard, with the potential of playing Miami, but we were holding on [over a decision] after the Indian Wells event cancellation. We then practised on clay for some days, then bit by bit [the world] closed down. We will just have to wait and see when the restrictions lift for everyone.

“It’s a tough time for everyone, not just on the tennis court, but the whole world has come to a halt. I haven’t left the house for a couple of days, and I only leave to get food and exercise once per day… My parents were on a cruise a couple of weeks ago in Central America, but were fortunate to get off and get a flight.”

Delgado, who joined Murray’s team in February 2016, first assisting Ivan Lendl, then as the Scot’s full-time coach from November 2017, isn’t sure when the Tour will resume. This week, the ATP Tour was suspended until 13 July.

“Tennis is a such an international, global sport, that it may take a while to get back: players, coaches, officials, sponsors and fans are all involved,” says Delgado. “It’s not like a domestic football league, where no one is needed to fly in or fly out. With Andy coming close to fitness, this virus was the last thing we wanted.”

The 43-year-old is used to biding his time, following Murray’s rehabilitation from two hip surgeries in recent years and a pelvic injury that has prevented the former World No. 1 from competing since November 2019.

Delgado also told the weekly radio podcast, which is broadcast every Sunday, “This is a unique situation for everybody. What can be done from a tennis player’s perspective is to stay in shape, stay prepared as things could change and tournaments may start up again.

“Here, in London, all the clubs and courts are closed, so it’s difficult to hit balls. Andy doesn’t have a court at home. [But] it’s important to have a racquet in your hand, even if it’s hitting against a wall. Rolling over some serves, particularly as injuries and niggles can arise if you haven’t played for a while.”

As a player, Delgado competed at The Championships, Wimbledon, for 23 consecutive years until his retirement in 2014. In the final years of his career, he started coaching Gilles Muller, who rose from No. 366 in the 2013 year-end FedEx ATP Rankings and back into the Top 50 by the end of the 2014 season.

Since flying back from Indian Wells a few weeks ago, I’ve been at my apartment in Monte-Carlo, unable to return to Italy, where the coronavirus pandemic isn’t very good. First of all, I’m trying to stay safe, but I’ve also started working hard on my fitness and conditioning. With the Tour suspension, there hasn’t been time yet to hit a ball. In the past six years, the longest period I didn’t hit a ball was when I damaged my ligaments and I was out for three weeks. Then, when I returned, I started slowly without moving a lot.

Right now, I’m waking up at nine o’clock, having breakfast, then at 10, I train for 90 minutes with my physical trainer Dragoljub Kladarin. Dalibor Sirola, who is in Croatia and can’t move either, sends Dragoljub programs. We first work on mobility and stability in the morning. I rest a bit, then at around 12:30, I eat something and rest some more. Around 3pm, I leave my apartment to go to my garage downstairs and I work for up to two hours on my strength. Once I finish for the day, I shower, play on my PlayStation — games such as Fifa and Fortnite — eat and sleep. It looks like I have to do this for three or four months now!

You may have seen how I’ve created the #SinnerPizzaChallenge, in response to the Coronavirus, on my social media. The response has been very good. I’d really like Roger, Rafa and Novak to make a pizza, but I know they have their own initiatives to focus on. The idea is to create my face or the face of an Italian on a pizza, then tag it #SinnerPizza or #SinnerPizzaChallenge. It would definitely be difficult to recreate my hair right now — it’s a bit long! The idea is to donate money to Bergamo, which is in a bad situation with many people dying. My own effort wasn’t very good, the pizza was too hard. Growing up, my Dad was the cook, so I learned some dishes from him. I like to make easy pasta, as it’s always nice to eat.

I left home aged 13 to move to Riccardo Piatti’s tennis centre, so I’m used to cooking, cleaning and washing my own clothes. It was tough, but I grew up quickly as a person. Initially, I lived with one of the centre’s coaches, Luka Cvjetkovic, who had a wife, two young children and a dog, because I really needed a family around me. Riccardo was very smart in thinking about me, so being with Luka’s family made me feel better. I now live alone in an apartment, so I have to handle everything. Normally, I call my family every two or three days, but now everyone is isolating, I call each evening. Thankfully, my parents and brother, Marc, are doing well.

Hopefully, the Coronavirus will go away as soon as possible. I know every country is doing their best to lockdown. I do get bored easily, because normally I am always on the move. When I was younger, I went out to play with friends, sports like football with my classmates. I think it’s important to play a lot of sports, before you decide. Today, all I can do is relax, work on my fitness and watch TV series.

Hearing the news of the grass swing and Wimbledon’s cancellation, Riccardo and my team — Dalibor, Andrea Volpini and physiotherapist Claudio Zimaglia — will need to draw up a plan, so to be ready once tournaments resume. Over the past 12 months, I’ve improved my forehand, but during this Tour suspension we still need to work on it, as well as my volley and serve.

One of the reasons for my rapid rise up the [FedEx ATP Rankings] has been due to playing older players, adults, as a junior. I remember losing in the Sharm El Sheikh first round and telling Riccardo to put me in Futures events from now on. There were many tough times and lots of first-round losses, but since getting my first points [in February 2018], it’s gone very fast. Last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals title was very nice for me, of course, but I didn’t party of anything. I went to a Challenger tournament near my home and searched for the feeling of victory again. I am just trying to grow and improve day-after-day.

Thankfully, I have an excellent team and during this Tour suspension, I’m going to keep working as hard as ever. I hope everyone can stay healthy and safe until the situation improves.

As told to James Buddell.

It was one of those matches that marked a turning point in the game. Exactly 15 years ago, on 3 April 2005, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal clashed for the first time in an ATP Tour final. On the courts of the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Miami, one cup was at stake between two figures destined to become icons of modern sport.

It was just the second match in a flourishing rivalry. One season earlier, Nadal had upset the Swiss in the third round of the same tournament. A few things had changed since then. Although Federer was still the undisputed No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings and Nadal was outside of the Top 30, the distance between the two of them was considerably less.

In an epic final, Federer survived Nadal’s onslaught 2-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1, after three hours and 43 minutes of hard work. Several things became clear that day. Firstly, their styles of play meshed perfectly. Secondly, on his debut in an ATP Masters 1000 final, Nadal had no fear whatsoever of performing on the big stage. Thirdly, that very few players would be capable of making that version of Federer suffer the way he did. All at 18 years of age.

Federer, at the time synonymous with victory, could smell defeat just two points away from him. He left the court with more than a title; he also took with him the certainty that, despite his adolescence, he had a huge rival on the other side of the net. “I wasn’t surprised because I know how good he is,” said Federer. “In every match I play I’m the hot favourite. When I lose sets, it seems crazy and today I saw the danger Nadal represents.”

With white, knee-length shorts, a sleeveless orange t-shirt and limitless energy, Nadal had delivered another reality check to the eyes of the world. While one year earlier he had seen off Federer in the early stages of the tournament, making history with every step, now he had stared him down with the title at stake. He had pushed the No. 1 to the brink, with a two-set lead and 4-1 up in the third. Everyone took notice.

“I’m happy with my game but not with the final result,” explained an ambitious Nadal. “I lost a little energy in the fourth and fifth set. In the third, I was feeling good. I felt I was playing well and had the confidence to win the match. But he played well in key moments. I think my game was good from start to finish. In the fifth set, once I lost my serve, I lost the match.

“When you’re playing the best player in the world and you reach that point, you feel like you’re mentally ready. But it’s hard psychologically.”

The reality was more than clear. Federer had won his past 21 matches and had only suffered one defeat in the past 48 encounters. But that afternoon, suddenly Nadal had pushed him to the limit. So much so that an old habit that the Swiss had managed to overcome with time, came back to bite him; smashing his racquet against the floor.

“It is surprising to see Federer throw his racquet, but it makes you think that you’re closer to victory,” said Federer. “I could see his frustration when he did that. I was very disappointed, I let slip one opportunity after another,” concluded Federer. “He made me feel as if I were going uphill all the time. That’s why I threw my racquet so hard. It did me good and woke me up in a way.”

Although the Swiss was in deep trouble, despite the fact that he was haemorrhaging errors, Nadal witnessed his survival instincts at close quarters, the virtue that separates the best from the very good. “Federer is a player that makes mistakes, that’s not his strength”, said Nadal. “His strength resides in being able to surprise you, and in not making mistakes in the most important moments.”

Teetering on the precipice, Federer found a way to keep breathing.

“I was very worried, above all in the first set,” said Federer. “I don’t often lose 6-2 and that shows that I was struggling. But I think it has a lot to do with his game. He’s left-handed and I have to get used to that. And I couldn’t do it! Maybe he was very aggressive from the start. By the time I managed to understand his game, I was already a set and a break down. Then my reaction was good. I missed a lot of chances, but surviving all that was incredible.”

For an athlete used to burying his opponents, fighting back must have been an enormous relief. Federer, at that time, had only twice comeback from two-sets-to-love down in his career.

“In the end, I felt like the happiest man in the world,” said Federer. “I’m very happy about this comeback, because I had almost never done that in my life. It’s a great moment in my career, especially doing it in a final against a player of that quality.”

After almost four hours of high-level tennis, Federer was able to analyse Nadal’s game. “His shots bounce very high,” said the then 24-year-old Federer. “He doesn’t play deep, but short, so the ball goes really high. When you realise that you should attack it, it’s already too late. In that situation, your shots are going to be high risk. We don’t have many great left-handers right now, so it’s good to have a new one.

“He’s an extraordinary athlete. He moves in a way that’s completely different to most players. He’s fast and, as he’s left-handed, it changes a lot of things. His forehand is huge. Even when running he can hit it with spin. He hits his backhand very close to his body, but, somehow, he manages to hit it hard, even under pressure. That’s what he does well. He’s a particularly good defensive player, he doesn’t just have a good forehand. We’ll see a lot of him in the future. For me it was a huge match, because I know what a great player Rafa will be one day.”

Hearing the praise, the 18-year-old Nadal, who had subsequently gone on to capture a record 35 Masters 1000 trophies, admitted, “Whenever I play well and whenever I play matches of this type I have fun. But once you lose the last point the fun is over. “It’s my first Masters [1000] series final and I’m quite surprised. But I’m playing well, and I hope it’s not my last.”

That day in Miami marked the start of something very special. The first final was pure sporting spectacle. Every fan wanted more. Luckily, all the tennis world had to do was wait…

To date, 68 tournaments on the ATP Challenger Tour have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with their events canceled or postponed.

We thank them for all they do.

Your favourite players are all back at home, but they’re finding plenty of ways to stay active. From Roger Federer hitting against a wall to Rafael Nadal working out on the treadmill, find out how the biggest names in tennis are keeping busy.

Federer shared how he’s been staying in shape while practising social distancing.

Another glimpse into the stay at home practice routine ????
I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Stay positive. Keep active. Support one another. We will get through this together? #stayhome pic.twitter.com/ZVqMZ2ZpXc

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 2, 2020

Nadal encouraged his fans to keep a positive attitude.

Hay que animarse y seguir!!!! ?????? #yomequedoencasa #iorestoacasa#istayhome #jerestechezmoi pic.twitter.com/3uX6pc4ubo

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 2, 2020

Grigor Dimitrov found a unique way to continue working on his strength.

Grigor making this look easy… ?

Think you could pull this off?

?: @GrigorDimitrov | #tennisathome pic.twitter.com/IPGTRq1KOA

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 1, 2020

Kyle Edmund gave thanks to the frontline workers who are helping combat COVID-19 and urged everyone to stay at home.

“What’s going on is bigger than tennis right now.”

Hear from Brit @kyle8edmund via @QueensTennis ?pic.twitter.com/WfLnbtWR3X

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 2, 2020

Yuichi Sugita is sporting an unconventional training kit these days.

SAMURAI training at home.

日本の文化で世界を元気に!!
バカ殿様に届けばいいな!! pic.twitter.com/Tk4NJEIaAJ

— 杉田祐一 / Yuichi SUGITA (@sugitayuichi88) April 2, 2020

Lloyd Harris is taking his tennis to new heights.

Now this is cool ?#tennisathome with @lloydharris63 ?? pic.twitter.com/6bp1IUb4w1

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 2, 2020

Roberto Carballes Baena is still working hard on his fitness.

¡Que nada te pare!

? @Robertocarba93 #YoMeQuedoEnCasa | #StayAtHome | #TennisAtHome pic.twitter.com/6aPQf3Lmkc

— ATP Tour en Español (@ATPTour_ES) April 2, 2020

Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi helped donate food bags to those in need in his native Pakistan.

Alhamdulliah hv delivered 500 ration bags to 500 families with help of @Rizq_Sharefood and in sha Allah goal is to reach 500 more in next few days ,thanks to all the contributions to #stopwarstartennis . Let’s keep working on making hunger free pakistan #CoronaVirusPakistan pic.twitter.com/VVGL1sRFtO

— Aisam ul Haq Qureshi (@aisamhqureshi) April 1, 2020