“It Feels Like Rockets Are Being Thrown At You”

“Today I found out that he was playing offensively and defensively well,” said Ruud. “I felt like he was walking better than sometimes you would expect him to because he’s a really tall person. He is strong because he plays long games and has no problems. When you look at him, he doesn’t just look like a bodybuilder, you know? I think he knows himself too.

“He is very fast on the court. He can get a lot of balls. I felt myself [at] other points I was throwing him around, he was defending and skating really well. I was impressed with everything about his game.”

Ruud last faced Sinner in Vienna in 2021. He lost in straight sets by the same scoreline (7-5, 6-1) but was quick to admit that Soni was a different player by leaps and bounds. “Everything in his game got better,” he said. “I mean, this year it looks like he’s improving in every aspect, even last year, at the end of last year. It’s really fun to watch. It’s hard to play.”

A Lesson in Commitment

It’s exhausting to face, but inspiring to watch, says Ruud.

“I really appreciate Jannik as a player. As a person, he is very serious about what he does. It is encouraging. Although he is younger than me, I still have a lot to learn from him.”

What is one of the most important lessons we can learn from Soni? Ruud says it is the Italian’s style of play that is bold and strong, fueled by the confidence he gained in a transformative season, with two major titles and 70 wins. “He will take his shot fully committed,” Ruud said. “I can definitely learn something. Sometimes I’m probably a little skeptical. Especially this time, I never get as aggressive as he does.

“There are many things I can learn from him and from today’s loss.”

How does the sinner compare to Novak Djokovic? Jannik Hits a Fastball

When asked to compare Sinner to Novak Djokovic, Ruud offered an interesting insight. First of all, he said that the two are not the same at all.

“I don’t think so, in my opinion, because they play different tennis,” he said. “I mean, I think on TV it looks the same, the way they play. But Jannik hits the ball faster than Novak. He doesn’t let you breathe. With Novak you can play rallies. I won’t say [it’s] Novak is easy to play because he is the best in history. At least with Novak you can play more rallies and not be afraid of Novak’s rip, like, bomb down the lane or court or these things.

“I don’t really like to compare players because everyone has their own style. For me, you don’t realize how fast Jannik plays unless you watch him play live and you’re there on the field.”