Casper Ruud has never been one to hide behind excuses. Even after lifting the biggest trophy of his career at the 2025 Madrid Open, the normally soft-spoken Norwegian didn’t sugarcoat the reality; last season fell short of his expectations. And as 2026 rolls in, Ruud finds himself in a familiar place: caught between pride in what he has achieved and hunger to become better. But this time, his motivation comes with a twist…

According to Ruud, it’s the next wave - the Sinners, the Mensiks, and the Fonsecas - who have pushed him into rethinking everything he believed about tennis. In his press conference at the ASB Classic, Ruud explained how much tennis has changed since he made his ATP main-draw debut in 2016. Back then, he stepped on court against Viktor Troicki - one of many names from a generation dominated by Djokovic, Nadal, Tsonga, Ferrer, and Berdych, the players Ruud once watched religiously on TV. That era, he now says, feels like a different sport.

“There are a lot of young guys these days that are coming and that are playing a bit different type of tennis to when I kind of came on tour myself.” Casper Ruud didn’t hesitate when naming the players who’ve forced him to evolve: Jannik Sinner, Jakub Mensik, and Joao Fonseca. “Let’s take Sinner as kind of the oldest one, and then you can go down to maybe Fonseca, which is the youngest one, and in-between that age group of five to six years, they really rip the ball and play a little bit of a different style of tennis, and that’s something I’ve needed to get used to.”

According to Ruud, these players in particular don’t have one big shot; they typically have two big shots, both the forehand and backhand. He also highlighted how Jakub Mensik caused a few troubles for him at the 2026 United Cup with his great serve and strong backhand. And these are some of the things that have forced him to look inward. “Seeing how the game has changed has made me realize that I need to change my game a little.”

In a surprisingly candid admission, Casper Ruud also said, “I’ve been studying a lot of the younger guys over the last recent weeks and months to see how my game needs to develop and change in order to handle their type of tennis.” For a player who built his success on heavy topspin, defensive discipline, and clay-court mastery, this marks a major shift in philosophy. Ruud realizes that if the game has evolved, he must evolve too.

But this isn’t the first time Ruud sparked a conversation about tennis evolution. In December 2025, he gave an eyebrow-raising take when comparing eras. “Sinner and Alcaraz hit the ball with more speed than the ‘Big 3’ did,” he told Tennis 365.

He emphasized that while Nadal’s forehand was explosive, the modern young stars bring a new edge. “Now we have Carlos and Jannik… no side is a weakness. It doesn’t matter if it's the backhand or forehand; they will rip it. Also, they move well physically. They just move great.”

Now, as Casper Ruud prepares for the ASB Classic in New Zealand, he stands at a crossroads - one where experience meets adaptation. However, amid all this, there is a bit of concern about his participation in the 2026 AO.

Casper Ruud could be forced to quit the 2026 Australian Open

As Casper Ruud readies himself for a season-opening push against the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, his mind is also thousands of kilometers away in Oslo. His fiancée, Maria Galligani, is heavily pregnant. So, Ruud, currently competing at the ASB Classic, could be forced to pack his bags and leave the first Grand Slam of the year at a moment’s notice.

“Honestly, she (the baby) can come any time now. So hopefully I get to stay for the rest of the tournament, but you never know. I might get a call and be on the plane back home out of here. It's no short trip back home, so hopefully she stays in for a few extra weeks and I can be there for the birth, and later in the year we'll have our wedding and celebrate our marriage,” he said to reporters in New Zealand.

A standard flight from Melbourne to Oslo can take 24-26 hours. Flying from Auckland adds even more travel time. It’s an odyssey in the air, and it means that if a call comes, Ruud has a tight window to make it home.

But whether Casper Ruud makes a deep run in Melbourne or boards a 26-hour flight back to Norway, one thing is certain: 2026 is already shaping up to be the most life-changing year of his career.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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