Casper Ruud will welcome David Ferrer to his coaching team on the ATP Tour next year. After missing out on the ATP Finals and competing in Sweden for the Stockholm Open, Ruud shared his ambitions for the upcoming season in an interview with Bolavip.
Chasing the Top Ten and ATP Finals
Ruud expressed his desire to climb back into the top ten swiftly and secure a qualification spot for the ATP Finals in Turin. Having previously played in the tournament in 2021, 2022, and 2024, where he reached two semi-finals and a final, he considers it one of the major goals of the tennis season. Sitting 18th in the world rankings with 2,435 points, he trails 10th-ranked Taylor Fritz by 850 points, a deficit he hopes to erase by elevating his level of play.
The Norwegian player has experienced a difficult 2026 campaign, putting him at risk of finishing a calendar year without an ATP title for the first time since 2019. His best result this year came at the Italian Open, where he reached the final before losing in straight sets to Jannik Sinner. His Grand Slam performances have also suffered, featuring a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open and French Open, a first-round defeat at Wimbledon, and a missed appearance at the US Open.
Grand Slam Ambitions and the Upcoming Off-Season
Despite his recent struggles, Ruud retains his Grand Slam aspirations and believes that partnering with Ferrer can help him unlock his best tennis in the coming years. He intends to dedicate the next several years to contending for a major title, viewing it as a realistic goal even if it comes later in his career than typical for most players. Alexander Zverev recently claimed his first two Grand Slam titles at age 29, highlighting that success at a later stage is possible.
Before entering the off-season to train with Ferrer, Ruud has one final opportunity to extend his streak of winning at least one ATP title every year since 2019. Seeded second at the Stockholm Open, a tournament he won last season, he earned a bye to the second round to face Alexander Shevchenko. A successful run could set up potential matches against Thiago Agustin Tirante, players like Alex Michelsen or Lorenzo Sonego in the semi-finals, and top contenders like Taylor Fritz or Holger Rune in the final on Saturday, November 14.
