Ruud's Speech After His Madrid Title: "I Came Here When I Was Eleven to Watch Rafa, Roger, and Novak"
At 26 years old, Casper Ruud clinched his first career Masters 1000 title in Madrid by defeating Jack Draper in the final.
A three-time Grand Slam finalist, the Oslo native was understandably overjoyed during the trophy ceremony, delivering a heartfelt speech praising Draper and the tournament organizers:
"I’d like to start by talking about Jack. Thank you for your kind words. You’re an incredible player for your young age. You’re a threat to everyone, no matter the time or place. Nothing will stop you from succeeding. You’ve been amazing these past two weeks.
"And congratulations to your team as well—I know you all work hard. Keep it up, it’s an honor to watch you play, and today was just my lucky day.
"Thank you to my team and everyone who could be here. There have been ups and downs, but we’ve stuck together. After several setbacks, lifting this trophy feels incredible. Thank you for continuing to believe in me. And thank you to my fiancée Maria, who arrived yesterday to support me.
"Thank you to Feliciano (Lopez, tournament director), the sponsors, and everyone involved in this event. I came here when I was eleven. I watched you play, Feliciano, but also Rafa, Novak, and Roger. It’s amazing to be here now as the champion. This is what dreams are made of. I can’t wait to come back next year."
Madrid
Well deserved 👏 👍