Hope I don’t play a Spanish player if I ever reach the Slams final – Casper Ruud

Norwegian Casper Ruud lost to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday in the four-set contest. This was Ruud’s second Slam final loss against a Spaniard as he had previously lost to Rafael Nadal in the final of Roland Garros in straight sets earlier in the season.

Ruud is now hopeful that he doesn’t have to face a Spanish player if he ever reaches another Slams final. The youngster admitted he was always an underdog when he was taking on Nadal in the French Open final but thought he could beat Carlos Alcaraz on the hard court surface at the Flushing Meadows.

“I guess I hope I don’t play a Spanish player if I ever reach another Slam final. They know what they’re doing in the Slam finals.”

“In Roland Garros, (it) was hard for me to believe that I could beat Rafa.”

“I still thought I was the underdog in a way. But it was more fun for me today. I didn’t need to play the biggest idol of my life on the biggest match of my life. It was sort of easier for me to believe that I could win.”

Ruud admitted that it was not easy to face Carlos Alcaraz, who gave his all and came out as a winner in the end. However, the Norwegian grew in confidence after reaching two Major finals that he can go on to win a Grand slam title.

“Today was not easier, but I believed it more. I think these two tournaments have sort of made my self-belief to win a Grand Slam grow,” he said.

Ruud was brilliant in the two weeks of the US Open but could not bring his A-game against Alcaraz, who became the youngest US Open champion since Pete Sampras.