Casper Ruud reveals what he told his team about Jack Draper during the Madrid Open final after getting 'frustrated' during the match

Casper Ruud was looking to win the first Masters 1000 title of his career at the Madrid Open.

The Norwegian star hadn’t enjoyed the best of starts to his 2025 clay-court campaign, as Ruud failed to reach the last four at either the Monte-Carlo Masters or Barcelona Open.

Finding his footing in Madrid, Ruud secured several impressive wins in the Spanish capital.

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In the quarterfinals, Ruud beat Daniil Medvedev for the first time in his career, before battling through injury and crowd disturbances to take down Francisco Cerundolo in the semis.

There, he came face to face with the in-form Jack Draper, but showed no fear, as Ruud clinched the Madrid Open title with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory.

Speaking after the match, Ruud shared his thoughts on his ATP Tour rival and admitted what the Brit did that troubled him during the second set.

Casper Ruud told his team Jack Draper was making it ‘really tough’ for him during the Madrid Open final

Speaking to Sky Sports after the Madrid Open final, Ruud reflected on his maiden Masters 1000 win, explaining how Draper frustrated him at times.

“I was getting a bit frustrated in the second and beginning of the third set as I felt I had the momentum of the first set, and then I was thinking time to dominate him even more, and I wasn’t able to in the second,” he said.

“He came back and played phenomenally.

“I kind of told my team or my box over there, he is responding so well to my heavy forehands and making it really tough for me.

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“He is answering even tougher from his forehand down to my backhand, so I was like, woah. It’s not like you can just play down to his forehand; he can rip it down the line, cross, anywhere.”

The 26-year-old revealed what he was thinking to himself before he regained momentum, winning in three sets.

“Ultimately, I was just thinking I am the clay court player here,” said Ruud.

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“I have played more hours on clay than him. He is obviously great but this is my surface and it’s time to back that up.”

Ruud has won more clay-court matches on the ATP Tour since 2020 than any other player and used all of that experience during the final few games against Draper.

“A few of the forehands towards the end caused a few problems for him, and it finally set up some easier ones, which I went for,” he said.

“The last game I was thinking, make the first two serves of the first two points. It was really nice to get 30-0 when you are serving for it, and it’s easier to let loose when you’re up, and those two forehands under the circumstances and pressure were probably the best in my career.”

Casper Ruud says ‘the sky is the limit’ for Jack Draper after his clay-court breakthrough in Madrid

Ruud went on to share some kind words towards his opponent after the match.

“I think Jack [Draper] has become a threat on any surface. If you look at his career before Madrid, his best results have been on hard court or grass, but now he has played so well here in Madrid and shown he can be a threat and understands the surface,” he said.

“Not that he was a bad clay court player, but he has taken a big step, and he is able to kind of answer my top spin down to his backhand well, and he has a heavy forehand, and serves great, and moves great.

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“There are no holes in his game on clay either, and I think he will become more and more difficult to play here because results like this make you believe more and give you more confidence, so he will be a threat.

“Like I told him, I think the sky is the limit for him, and I’m lucky to have beaten him once before he continues to get better and better.”

Draper has scored more clay court wins in 2025 than in any previous year, with two ‘big tournaments’ still to play.

Next up for Draper is a trip to the Italian Open, an event he has played just once before.

In 2024, Draper beat Borna Coric in his opening match before falling to defeat against defending champion Daniil Medvedev in round two.

The Russian came out on top, 7-5, 6-4, winning his first career meeting against the British number one.

It remains to be seen if Draper can enjoy a better tournament this time around, but if his Madrid performances are anything to go by, you certainly wouldn’t bet against it.

The 2025 Italian Open gets underway in Rome on Monday, May 5.

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