Ruud sends warning to Sinner ahead of ATP Finals semis: “More pressure on him… playing at home”

Casper Ruud will apparently need to play out of his skin to move past Jannik Sinner into the title clash of the 2024 ATP Finals and the Norwegian seemed ready for the task when he fielded questions from the media about his upcoming semi-final meeting with the Italian on Saturday, November 16.

Scheduled to enter the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, with local hero Sinner, Ruud will have to forget an unfavourable head-to-head record (2-0) and the crowd, which will understandably be cheering for the world No 1 from the stands.

The Norwegian moved into the final four on the back of wins against Spanish powerhouse Carlos Alcaraz (6-1, 5-7) and Russian Andrey Rublev (6-4, 5-7, 6-2), helping him finish second behind Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the John Newcombe Group. Sinner, on the other hand, remained unassailable in Ille Nastase Group, registering straight-set wins over Alex de Minaur (6-3, 6-4), Taylor Fritz (6-4, 6-4), and Daniil Medvedev (6-3, 6-4).

Ruud is wary of the red-hot form Sinner has been in the season, amassing 68 wins that have propelled him to seven titles, but didn’t shy away from sending the Italian a warning while talking to the press after beating Rublev. As per the No 6 seed, it will be Sinner carrying the greater weight of expectations, playing in front of a home crowd.

“Every match has its own life in a way,” Ruud said during the press conference. “You know you’re going to have to be on top of your game, especially against these really great players. Jannik this year has been the best player in the world throughout the whole year. Deservedly year-end world No. 1. This week also has been playing flawless tennis. Hasn’t dropped a set. He had a day off today. He probably prepared the best that he can.

“Of course, in a way I know that he maybe has a little bit of an advantage because today I played and it was late, all this stuff. Every match is open. I’m going to go out there as an underdog. He is the favorite. He has more pressure on him, on his shoulders, he’s playing at home. I know the feeling of sometimes playing a big match at home. It doesn’t seem to bother him too much. Let’s see if I can bring something to the table tomorrow that can make a difference.”

Ruud has the “experience” of defeating a world No 1

Also, during the same presser, Ruud expressed the belief a win over then world No 1 Novak Djokovic (6-4, 1-6, 6-4) in the Monte-Carlo Masters semi-finals in April this year has instilled in him, but also noted the upcoming battle against Sinner would be the toughest by far:

“If I want to have any chance against him tomorrow, I know I need to play my best tennis, probably some of my best tennis in the last weeks, months, even the year. It’s going to be probably the toughest match I will play this year. But it’s a fun challenge.

“It’s not every day you get to play against world No 1. Last final I played against a world No. 1 was against Novak in Monte-Carlo and I was able to win it. At least I have some experience and some good feelings about it from earlier this year. I’m going to know that anything can happen.”

Interestingly, Ruud and Sinner haven’t faced each other on the ATP Tour since 2021, thus, the silver lining for the Norwegian in the head-to-head record is that it’s somewhat outdated, given how competition has evolved over the last couple of years.

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