SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, December 30, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Norway’s Casper Ruud experienced a mixture of highs and lows during the 2025 season. He won the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid Open for his biggest title in May, but finished ranked outside of the Top 8 (ending at No. 12) and missed playing in the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. It was a major disappointment for the 27-year-old from Oslo, who also won the ATP 250 Nordic Open in Stockholm last month.
Now, after a finishing the 2025 season with injury struggles to his knee and foot that resulted in retirements at Shanghai and Basal – as well as several early exits at the Grand Slams – Ruud has arrived in Australia eager, motivated and hungry to start the 2026 tennis season on the right foot.
On Tuesday, Ruud and the rest of Team Norway, who will compete in the upcoming United Cup that begins Friday, enjoyed a team outing at a Sydney surf park in the heart of New South Wales. While the World No. 12 admits he “didn’t look great,” he called his first surfing lesson in Sydney an amazing experience.
Malene Helgø, Casper Ruud, Astrid Wanja Brune Olsen and Ulrikke Eikeri (photo: Tennis Australia/Steve Markham)
After swapping tennis racquets for surfboards and waves, Ruud spoke about his team bonding experience.
“We don’t have nice, white beaches in Norway, so it’s tough for me [to surf] at home,” Ruud admitted. “But it was fun to do it here, first time. It’s a pool but it felt like a real wave. It was really fun.
“I was really impressed by my teammates. We all got up on our feet. Maybe, we didn’t look really great but we felt like we looked great. We were riding the waves for quite a bit. It was a good success.”
While much of the media’s focus was on Ruud, his teammates, including Malene Helgø, Astrid Wanja Brune Olsen and Ulrikke Eikeri, held steady on their surfboards and each rode some nice waves.
“The pressure was on,” Ruud explained. “I don’t think whether you can get up on a wave will define you or not. It was fun to try and I’m happy we all got up and didn’t make too big of a fool of ourselves.”
From the snow to the surf
Team Norway shredding at @urbnsurf @sydney_sider #feelnewsydney pic.twitter.com/uvjMMf5lpV
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 30, 2025
During Ruud’s brief, six-minute Q & A with reporters, he said he felt good – both physically and mentally – in preparing for the grind of a brand-new season.
“It was nice. I spent around four weeks at home and just came from Christmas celebrations and all the traditions we have,” he said. “It was dark and cold back home, so it’s refreshing to come here where it’s sunny and warm and summer. Hopefully, I can have a good start to the summer here this year.”
Ruud’s new season begins Saturday evening when Norway faces Australia in Group D play in the United Cup. He will take on World No. 7 Alex de Minaur in his first match, then will play World No. 19 Jakub Mensik of Czechia on Monday, also at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. Ruud is also expected to play mixed doubles for Norway, likely with Eikeri.
“I have an exciting year coming up, both on and off the court, for me. I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, I have a good start here down under,” said Ruud, who finished the 2025 season with a 39-16 win-loss record and earned nearly $4 million in prize money. He and his fiancée, Maria Galligani, announced last September they are expecting a baby girl in 2026.
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“I feel really fresh and recharged. I’ve come here with maybe more motivation than I did last year. I really look forward to this year. I mean, it’s going to be a really fun year for tennis – not just for me but to see if anyone can challenge the top two guys on the men’s tour, who can win the Slams.”
That would be World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and No. 2 Jannik Sinner of Italy, who between them split winning the four Grand Slam titles. Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon Championships, while Alcaraz captured Roland-Garros and the US Open.
“Last year, we saw a bunch of new first-time Masters 1000 champions,” said Ruud, pointing to Mensik (Miami), Jack Draper of Great Britain (Indian Wells), Ben Shelton of the United States (Canada) and Valentin Vacherot of France (Shanghai). “Let see if anyone can bring it up to the Slams level as well.”
Because Ruud has been mostly been concentrating on himself and his own game, he chuckled: “I haven’t thought much about Alcaraz or Sinner in the last week, to be honest.” The line drew laughter from both him and reporters. “Definitely, it was joy to watch them finish their ATP calendar and playing the Nitto ATP Finals. They once again showed where their level is at. It’s up to the rest of us to see if we can close the gap a bit. …
“It’s not the longest period [the off-season], so I don’t think you’ll see any drastic changes, I think, in anyone’s game, but hopefully you’ll see improvements. … You’re focusing on yourself, focusing on ‘what am I doing well already?’ and ‘what do I want to improve and keep improving?’ It’s been fun.
“Players are eager and hungry and motivated at the start of the new year. You’ll see some good points and rallies.”
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After the United Cup, Ruud will play a final tune-up for the Australian Open in Auckland, New Zealand, something he’s not done before. Then, he said, he will be ready to dive right into the 2026 season’s first major in Melbourne come mid-January.
“My goal is to go deep in the Slams,” said Ruud, who bowed in the second round of the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and the US Open and missed Wimbledon. “Last year, I didn’t in any of them. Let’s see if I can get some revenge on the Grand Slam level and reach a couple of second weeks this year.”
Asked what other goals he’s set for himself, Ruud declared: “I definitely hope I can play Carlos and Jannik more this year because that mean’s I’m doing well because they are always first and second seeded. If you can play them at a later stage of tournament it’s tough, but it means you’ve had a good result, too. I hope to go up against them more often.”
Ruud added: “All in all, to be back in Turin [at the ATP Finals] would be a great season. If you can end your season there, you’ve had a great season.”
