Casper Ruud: Sports psychology “personal training for your feelings”

ROME, Italy—Casper Ruud described sports psychology as “personal training for your feelings” in a quick-hit interview ahead of his return to the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

“When you talk to someone, whether it’s a psychologist, psychiatrist or anyone, I think it helps like a kind of personal training for your brain,” Ruud told Tennis Channel on Tuesday. “You get personal training in the gym to work on your glutes or your arms, but I think talking to someone in this aspect is like personal training for your feelings.

“It was really nice and I had a great experience with it. I encourage anyone who’s doubting whether they should try it to try it, and see how it goes.”

A former world No. 2, Ruud first opened up about struggles with mental health last week at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he went on to win his first Masters 1000 title.

Read more: Casper Ruud gets back on hamster wheel after improving mental health

“With tennis, there is so much focus on what’s happening on court,” explained the 26-year-old, “whether you could have played your forehand or backhand better. It’s also a very mental game, which can make it frustrating many times. I think the whole lifestyle of it all, with the travel we do and the day in, day out. There’s not much rest.

“It got to a point where I didn’t really wake up feeling that excitement and joy anymore. I realized that it might be worth it trying to talk to someone.”

Ruud has endured his share of ups and downs since reaching his first Grand Slam final at 2022 Roland Garros. Known for his proficiency on clay, Ruud expanded his tennis vocabulary with a strong hard-court swing, culminating with runner-up finishes at that year’s US Open and Nitto ATP Finals. The Norwegian has dipped in and out of the Top 10 in the three years since, returning to No. 7 following his victory at the Caja Magica, where he knocked out five seeds en route to winning the biggest title of his career.

A three-set triumph over BNP Paribas Open champion Jack Draper was punctuated by an extra-long exclamation from an enthusiastic on-court announcer.

“I think he’s fairly new to the whole tennis announcing thing, but he did a great job,” said Ruud. He really was passionate about introducing the players and making the names so long. I almost felt like I walked in too early because he spent such a long time announcing my name. But it was really cool; the fans seemed to enjoy it and I liked it as well.”

Looking to become only the third man after Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to capture the Madrid-Rome double, the Foro Italico’s No. 6 seed will play his first match against either Alexander Bublik or Roman Saffiulin on Saturday.