Casper Ruud and Alex de Minaur have both made complaints following their early French Open exits.
Two-time Roland Garros finalist, Ruud lost his second-round match in 2025, falling to defeat against Portugal’s Nuno Borges, 6-2, 4-6, 1-6, 0-6.
The Norwegian struggled with injury during the latter stages of the match and explained how the structure of the ATP Tour encourages players to compete even when they’re not 100% fit during his post-match press conference.
After the match, De Minaur admitted he’s been feeling ‘burned out’ recently, and called for the ATP Tour to shorten the schedule.
Reacting to their comments, Sam Querrey and Jack Sock have now given their verdict on one of the sport’s most topical issues.
Sam Querrey thinks Casper Ruud and Alex de Minaur’s complaints will ‘force’ the ATP Tour into rule change
During the latest episode of the Nothing Major podcast, former world number eight Sock shared his thoughts on Ruud and De Minaur’s comments.
“I think there are a couple of parts to this. I’m a little surprised because obviously if you’re injured and not feeling great and have played a lot of tennis, you can pull out of the event or that match,” he said.
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“You don’t have to go on court, so I don’t know. Them saying the ATP is forcing you to play is confusing to me because you always have the option to not play, especially if you are injured, you can bow out and go rest and get healthy and come back.
“But I think all of us playing. I do think the season is very long, and we get tired at times for sure. The travel, I don’t think people understand everything that goes into it. Plus playing matches every day.”
Sock went on to give credit to Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray for competing on tour without making any complaints.
Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images
“I understand it and I don’t understand it. I also think it’s a testament to the big three or four that you never really heard that from them, and they were playing week in and week out and never really felt like that,” he said.
“It really proves how incredible they are at the sport and how good they were playing and getting through every week and winning every week.
“They are playing the most matches of everybody, so it’s a 50/50. I get it and I don’t get it.”
Sock’s co-host Querrey helped provide context of what Ruud was saying, explaining how the ‘bonus pool’ encourages players to compete when injured.
Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
“A lot of what Casper [Ruud] is referring to when they are saying they are forcing us to play at the end of the year, there is a bonus pool,” he said.
“I believe it’s paid out to guys one through 30 now. For every Master’s series you don’t play, they reduce your bonus by 25%. So he’s saying you pull out of Rome and you are reduced by 25%, and if you then pull out of Cincinnati, you are then reduced by 50%.”
“To access the full bonus, players must meet participation requirements. Playing in five Masters 1000 events earns them 25% of their total bonus. Six events unlocks 50%, seven gets 75%, and eight earns the full amount.”
Source: ATP Tour
“Oh wow. I did not know that,” admitted Sock.
“So, like Jack [Sock] is saying, if you are injured, you don’t have to play, but then your bonus at the end of the year will be reduced a little bit. So, yes, it goes both ways. So, what is more important, taking care of your body, or getting the full bonus pool?” said Querrey.
The American then predicted what the ATP Tour will now do in response to De Minaur and Ruud’s complaints.
“At the end of the day, yes, I think the ATP can tweak that rule, and if you are actually injured, maybe it doesn’t affect your bonus at the end of the year,” said Querrey.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
“Maybe it’s slashed a little bit less. I honestly don’t know what the best answer is for that, but I do think this is going to force the ATP to tweak that rule a little bit.”
Sock added to Querrey’s comments by suggesting the ATP Tour revert back to one-week Masters 1000 events.
“Making these Masters two weeks long every time is absurd. Keep them at a week long and guys are not going to feel as burned out,” he said.
“You don’t have to spend two weeks in Rome having all these days off where you still have to practice and do everything. So just get it back to the schedule.”
Ruud and Querrey both explained the Masters 1000 ‘Bonus pool’ clearly, but just how consistent has the Norwegian been at those events?
The 26-year-old has competed in the previous 34 Masters 1000 tournaments, a streak stretching back to the 2021 Canadian Open.
During that timeframe, Ruud has reached three finals, finally winning his first title at the level earlier this year at the Madrid Open.
2022 Miami Open F – Casper Ruud lost to Carlos Alcaraz
2024 Monte-Carlo Masters F – Casper Ruud lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas
2025 Madrid Open F – Casper Ruud beat Jack Draper
As Ruud now looks ahead to his recovery from injury, at least he can do so with a Masters 1000 title in his trophy cabinet, knowing he has something to show for his relentless consistency.
Ruud is scheduled to return to action at the Mallorca Open ATP 250 event on grass, which begins on June 23.
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