For Casper Ruud, the year 2024 hasn’t represented one that will live too long in the memory when it comes to highlights.
After reaching the semi-final at Roland Garros it was anticipated that he might enjoy a positive second half of the year but that hasn’t transpired.
He lost in the second round at Wimbledon and was then beaten in round four at the US Open with the Grand Slams not proving successful this year.
Ruud has reached three major finals during his career but has been beaten in the two French Open finals and the US Open final he’s reached.
Right now, the Norwegian player is sweating a little bit on his place at the ATP Finals which will take place in Turin.
He currently sits ninth in the world rankings and might be rooting for a little bit of lady luck to come his way before the tournament gets underway.
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Casper Ruud sweating over Novak Djokovic situation
Much like Ruud, Djokovic will undoubtedly view 2024 as an unsuccessful year and were it not for the Olympics, he wouldn’t have won anything of note.
The Grand Slams slipped from his grasp this year, with Carlos Alcaraz winning in Paris and London, whilst Jannik Sinner emerged victorious in Melbourne and New York.
Ruud is nicely poised for a place in Turin but he admits that he’s keeping tabs on other players ahead of the cut off.
Alex de Minaur is still in the mix, whilst the fact that Djokovic hasn’t yet confirmed for definite whether he will play is also making him anxious.
Ruud told the Nothing Major podcast: “Now I am in the same position (trying to secure a place). We don’t know with Novak, he has given different signals over where he wants to play the rest of the year. He has said that he doesn’t really need or want to play anything other than for Serbia and slams but he made the final in Shanghai so he is at number six. But he is not that far ahead of me, so if I have a good couple of stretches I might catch him.
“But it also depends – maybe he wakes up tomorrow and decides he wants to go to Paris and then the odds are pretty high that he makes at least the semi-finals, so it’s kind of a big problem having him around when it comes to the race. It’s stressful!
“You look at other results and I’m just going to say, you root for the other guy. Whoever De Minaur plays, no offence to Alex because I like him, but I will root for the other guy.
“Turin is really cool to make and it’s a battle for the whole year. At the beginning of the year you don’t care at all, but as soon as you get to Asia and the race is getting close, it’s crazy.”
Ruud can end 2024 with a flourish by qualifying for ATP Finals
It would be something of a surprise if Djokovic chose not to play in the ATP Tour Finals given that he’s won the last two.
He defeated Ruud in the final back in 2022 and last year saw off Jannik Sinner to claim the title.
For a player as talented as Ruud, he won’t be happy with what he’s achieved during 2024 and will be desperate to play in Turin.
That tournament featuring the world’s best eight players could provide him a chance to rescue something from the year.
Ruud will now be hoping that he can squeeze in and if he does that he will hope to give a good account of himself.
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