ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 16, 2021

Casper Ruud

Press Conference

C. RUUD/F. Fognini

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Last time you reached the semifinals of a Masters 1000 on clay was in Rome. Are you going into these semifinals with a different mindset than you did last time?

CASPER RUUD: Maybe a little bit. But in Rome I faced the world No. 1, Djokovic. It was one of the toughest opponents you can have on the tour. Tomorrow will be no different. It's either Rafa or it's Rublev, who has won the most ATP matches the last year.

I just have to well prepare like it's the toughest challenge of my career so far. I'm sure it will be. But I've gained good confidence from this week. I've beaten good players the last matches. I have to try to find a way to believe that I can win.

Tomorrow there has to be one winner of the match, and hopefully it can be me. I will try to relax and get a lot of energy for tomorrow and think that it's a little bit now or never.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the conditions today. Pretty windy and cold. Was it a factor today in your match?

CASPER RUUD: Well, I mean, I grew up playing tennis like this in the spring and summertime in Norway. It's usually cold. It's not as cold as today in the summertime luckily in Norway, but in the spring and early summer it's usually like that: 12, 13, 14 degrees with rain in the air.

I haven't been too much in Norway training too much the last years. I've escaped a little bit to Spain to get good practices down there. It's not something that I think the tour players practice too much in because usually we're in hot places, big cities, where it's warm.

It's something different, for sure. But I guess growing up like this, I know what it feels like. Maybe compared to other players... Fognini is from Italy, so probably didn't experience these conditions too much. Like I said, I grew up like it.

I don't think that's the reason why I won. It's something that I just tried not to think about it because it can be frustrating. We're here in Monte-Carlo, and you think it will be 20 degrees and sunny, no wind. The last days have been cold, windy, not what you're expecting.

I guess I'm liking it so far.