Bartoli questions Ruud’s decision not to prioritise the Australian Open

An exhausted Ruud lost early in Melbourne but plans to return in Acapulco this month.

Casper Ruud, Australian Open 2023 – © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

February 3, 2023

In the latest episode of Match Points, Marion Bartoli named Casper Ruud as the player who disappointed her the most during the Australian Open. The 2013 Wimbledon winner questioned the Norwegian player’s choices in this 2023 pre-season.

“After being in the final of the US Open and the Masters, I thought he would ride this wave. But he said very early on that he would go to the Australian Open just because it was a Grand Slam but he knew he would lose early and he would prepare for the new season after the Australian Open. I don’t remember ever hearing that from a player.”

The South American tour he did with Rafael Nadal this winter was then commented on by the Frenchwoman.

“He went on that tour and because of that, he took his holiday afterwards when the new season was about to start again so he didn’t have time to prepare for it. When you’re already a two-time Grand Slam finalist and also at the Masters, the next step is to win a major, that goes without saying and you accept not having any pre-season and having more or less no chance at the Australian Open, that’s a way of thinking that I don’t understand, that I think is weird but if he’s okay with it, great.”

Ruud to return in Acapulco

Casper Ruud was eliminated in the second round of the first Grand Slam of the season by American Jenson Brooksby. The Norwegian will be back on court, on his favourite surface, at the ATP 500 in Acapulco between 27 February and 4 March 2023.

The relevant clip begins at around 7.50 on the video.