MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 7, 2021

Casper Ruud

Press Conference

C. RUUD/A. Bublik

7-5, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Three ATP Masters semifinals on clay. What would it mean for you to reach a final?

CASPER RUUD: It will obviously mean a lot. This is the third time now. I hope that's the lucky charm, like we say.

The previous two times I lost to Djokovic, then I lost to Rublev. Whoever it will be tomorrow will be at least a lower-ranked player. But they're both great players. I hope that I can try to take advantage of that.

It's not maybe Djokovic on the other side of the net, but like I said they're both great players and I will have to play a great match again to be able to win. I will do everything I can to be ready. I'm very motivated for the third semifinal in a Masters 1000 of my career so far.

Q. A couple weeks ago you made it to the semifinals in Monte-Carlo, another Masters 1000. Didn't get the results you wanted. Is there anything specifically you are going to do differently that you may have learned in the semis in that Monte-Carlo match?

CASPER RUUD: Well, I think I have to keep the unforced errors down a bit more than what I did in the semifinal in Monte-Carlo. Against Rublev, you kind of have to go for more on your shots because he plays so extremely aggressive. It's tough to stay too far behind and just putting the ball in. It's normal that you do some more mistakes when you play a player like him.

I think today I did only four or five unforced errors, which gives me confidence for tomorrow. Also my body's feeling better now than it did in Monte-Carlo. My arm was pretty beaten up. I hope that the body will feel ready and fresh for tomorrow and I'm ready to give everything I have.

Q. Not asking you to look forward to either of your matches, but just in general your level of self-belief given how much success you are having on the clay surface? Do you see yourself as someone who should be winning these big titles now?

CASPER RUUD: Those I think are strong words. It still feels like I'm very new to this level, making the long stages at this level.

I think now I've proven also to myself that it's just not a one-hit-wonder when I did my first one in Rome and the second one in Monte-Carlo. It felt even more like it was a new feeling. This is the third time. I feel more confident in myself. Knowing that I've been there twice before I think will hopefully help tomorrow.

I guess I'm just enjoying it here in Madrid, playing good tennis. Like I said, today was almost without any unforced errors. That's probably the biggest confidence boost you can give yourself for a big match tomorrow.

Q. Can you share with us what challenges you faced after playing and beating a top five opponent last night in Stefanos, then playing against someone like Bublik who is as much an entertainer as a player, the underarm serves, dropshots? Two very contrasting styles.

CASPER RUUD: Yeah, like you said, two very different players. At the same time they can both produce extremely good winners, winners from pretty much everywhere on the court.

But Bublik plays obviously different than Stefanos. Stefanos plays with more spin. Bublik just rips the serve and rips the groundstrokes as much as he can. He even throws in the underarm serve, which I think he did a good one today. Luckily I was able to win the point. I don't like losing points to an underarm serve. A bit lucky with a volley when I ran after the underarm serve. I was quite fortunate sometimes with some let cords. He even threw in a tweener at me. I was able to win.

I think I'm very happy with the performance. It's a nice feeling to win the points when you know they have these flashy shots. It's nice to show that maybe doesn't work as well on the clay.

Q. You've been serving well. Today was the first breakpoint you faced. What has been working so well and how important is that?

CASPER RUUD: Well, I think, like I mentioned earlier, I had some problems with my arm in Monte-Carlo. The fact that my toss was a bit too far behind my head I think didn't help much with the arm.

I did a lot of not say technical changes, but I tried to have the toss a little bit more in front, do a little bit more turning on my upper body on the serve, which are some small technical things. So far it's been working out well.

It didn't work that good in Munich. I still played a good tournament, but here it's been working out extremely well. Like you said, I only faced one breakpoint through the whole tournament. That's not normal from my standards.

So I guess the Madrid altitude is treating me well. I'm enjoying the conditions. Especially for the serve, it's nice, you get more free points. You get a little bit extra pace with altitude. I guess that also gives me some confidence.