Casper Ruud, beaten by Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final in Monte-Carlo: “I didn’t find any fault”

“It seemed like you were a little nervous at the start of the match…
Yes, I didn’t get off to the best start, unfortunately. I always played defensively, not relaxed on my forehand and I didn’t find any fault in Stefanos’ game. When I played him in the past, it was whoever was able to play the most aggressive with the forehand who won. But today he played “heavy” also on the backhand side. And I haven’t found the right balance.

Tsitsipas did a lot of service and volleying on the second ball. Do you think that was one of the keys to this match?
It’s true. When you’re so far behind in the return position, like I am, you can be vulnerable on that.

“Obviously, a Grand Slam tournament or an ATP 1000 tournament is the next big goal”

Was it difficult to deal with the emotions after your victory against Djokovic in the semi-finals?
Not really. Today, honestly, was the first match I played during the day in these hot conditions. It was a little different, because when the sun goes down, it’s not as fast and bouncy. We therefore had to adapt to the conditions and speed of the court. But emotionally, yes, I was ready.

How close do you feel to this great title that you miss?
Today I didn’t feel that close… I played well on clay this week. Beating Djokovic was a fantastic victory for me and I hope I can take some confidence from it. That wasn’t the case today, but maybe the next time I’m in a big final… A year and a half ago, I was pretty close to winning the US Open final and become world number one. That year had been fantastic for me. 2023 has been a bit of a disappointment.

But this season I feel like I’m a little more on track, I’m playing a little more freely, I don’t have much to lose. I’ve accomplished more than I thought possible in my career, but in doing that you also want to continue and push even further. Obviously, a Grand Slam tournament or an ATP 1000 tournament is the next big goal. I’ve taken some small steps in the right direction over the last six months, tennis-wise, physically too, and I hope I can continue this positive trend I’m in. »