Casper Ruud has voiced his criticism of the ATP ranking system, which puts pressure on players to compete in tournaments even when injured to maintain their professional standing.
The world No. 8 faced an early exit in the second round at Roland Garros, losing to unseeded Nuno Borges with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday (AEST).
Throughout the match, Ruud struggled with a knee injury, a recurring issue he has mentioned multiple times this clay-court season.
The Norwegian revealed that he has been relying on painkillers to manage the injury, stating he would only consider withdrawing from tournaments under dire circumstances where he felt incapable of competing.
In the past month, Ruud has only opted out of one tournament, the Geneva Open, which took place a week before Roland Garros.
Casper Ruud receives medical treatment during his second round match against Nuno Borges. Getty
When questioned about his reluctance to take time off the Tour to recover fully, Ruud highlighted the grim realities of professional tennis.
“For me, I recognise that these weeks and months are critical for the rest of the year and my career,” he stated.
“Of course, if my leg were broken, I wouldn’t play. But it’s a tough situation, especially with mandatory events. Missing them is quite challenging, as everyone else gains points while you don’t.
“The rankings feel like a rat race. You sense significant losses—both financially and in terms of ranking—if you don’t participate.”
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Nuno Borges greets Casper Ruud at the net following his victory. Getty
The current Tour calendar has faced backlash from several athletes, particularly with ATP 1000 events now extending over a two-week duration.
Players are required to participate in 13 mandatory tournaments throughout the year, including the four Grand Slams, eight Masters 1000 events, and the Nitto ATP Finals at the season’s conclusion.
Moreover, top-ranked players must enter at least four 500-level events, with one of these needing to be played following the US Open.
This demanding schedule has raised concerns regarding player welfare, as athletes continue to grapple with short recovery periods and frequently travel from city to city.
Casper Ruud of Norway during his match against Nuno Borges. Getty
Ruud emphasised that failing to meet these obligations results in a zero ranking score, which affects players’ eligibility for future tournaments.
“You feel compelled to compete due to the ATP’s established rules surrounding mandatory events,” Ruud explained.
“There’s a bonus system in place that diminishes if you miss mandatory events. It forces players to participate, often while injured or unwell, which I believe is quite unfair.
“The system raises eyebrows because, on one hand, you don’t want to compete while injured and take a spot away from another player.”
“I’m just hoping to have a few days without painkillers now. I want to allow my body to heal properly and see where I stand in a few weeks.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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