Casper Ruud calls Miami Open organisers cheap in player service rant
Casper Ruud believes that the Miami Open could do a lot better for players when it comes to the service laid on for players at the Masters event.
Ruud doesn’t feel the level of player service is appropriate for a tournament that holds the status that the Miami Open does in the game.
The Norwegian feels that organisers have cheaped out in order to make a bigger profit.
Ruud took his complaint up with the chair umpire during his win over Frenchman Luca van Assche.
“There’s been no towels, no cold water, and just a plastic chair to change. This is a joke,” Ruud was heard to say on the broadcast feed.
“And you know why it is? because the tournament is too cheap to put up something good for the players.
“The players come here every year to play, to put on a show in front of tens of thousands of people and then they treat us like this.”
Casper not happy with the tournament service. I always get the feeling that Stef is not feeling well in Miami either; the heat, wind and high humidity are bothering him and the players are obviously not being treated adequately either. pic.twitter.com/TwK4v5o1Ka
— Tsitsidaily🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@tsitsidaily) March 23, 2024
Ruud called out the tournament for using temporary trailers for player changing rooms while stadium upgrades are being performed.
He felt that the standard fell way below what players should be expected to deal with at this level.
“Go to trailer for five minutes in a room with nothing and just a plastic chair to change,” Ruud continued.
“Maybe they can put some towels, maybe some cold water for the players’ comfort. And it’s not your fault. I’m just saying how bad it is.
“No, I know you didn’t know but I’m telling you now. And you have to take it on today to whoever is in charge, Andrea, Massimo, whoever. Because every time the players complain, nothing happens.”
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Ruud has been out to be a leaner and meaner version of the player at risk of being labelled a nearly-man.
“Well, I think physically I’m feeling a little bit better this year, and moving better out on court,” Ruud told a press conference.
“I said it quite honestly or honest and openly a couple of weeks ago that I slimmed down a little bit, I took off a couple of kilos from last year. I think that’s been working well for me. I have the power still in my shots, and I’m moving a little lighter on my feet.
“That’s something that I have been working on. And, you know, moving a little more mobile and flexible out there is always a good thing. Trying to play more aggressive, you know, tennis-wise.
“So there are a couple of things that I have adjusted from last year, and obviously I had a longer probably better preseason period in December than what I had coming into 2023, so that is probably also part of the reason why this year has gone better so far.”