Marion Bartoli admitted she was a bit stunned after hearing about Casper Ruud’s “weird decision” not to have a preseason before the Australian Open. After the 2022 season finished, Ruud went on a Latin America Tour with Rafael Nadal.
Ruud, whose 2022 season finished at the ATP Finals, didn’t have much time to rest and prepare for the 2023 season. Instead, Ruud said he would take a break after the Australian Open and then have a preseason for the 2023 season.
After losing his Auckland opener, Ruud also suffered a second-round defeat at the Australian Open.
Bartoli on Ruud’s move: I think that was weird
“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.
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,” Bartoli said on the latest episode of Tennis Majors’ Match Points.
After reaching two Grand Slam finals last year, Ruud’s big goal for 2023 is to go a step further and become a Grand Slam champion. Ruud didn’t impress at the Australian Open and it remains to be seen if he can do better at the French Open.
