Casper Ruud prepares at the Rafa Nadal Academy to defend his crown at the Mutua Madrid Open

16.04.2026

RNA Editorial.

Norwegian player Casper Ruud is fine-tuning his preparation for one of the biggest challenges of his season at the facilities of the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. The reigning champion of the Mutua Madrid Open is putting the finishing touches to his preparations in Manacor with the clear objective of defending the title he won in 2025 — the greatest achievement of his career to date — and arriving in peak condition for the clay-court swing.

Before his first training session at the Academy, Casper Ruud and Rafa Nadal shared a relaxed meeting where they exchanged views on preparing for the clay-court season. The conversation once again reflected the close relationship between the two, as well as Rafa’s continued involvement in the day-to-day development of the players training at the Academy.

Ruud first arrived at the Academy in 2018 when he was ranked No. 143 in the official ATP rankings. Since then, his progression has been steady, establishing himself as one of the standout names on the tour. Currently ranked world No. 12, the Norwegian climbed as high as No. 2 after reaching the final of the US Open, confirming his breakthrough into the elite.

A large part of his success can be attributed to his dominance on clay, the surface on which he has built his identity as a player. Notably, 12 of the 14 titles in his career have come on clay, cementing his status as one of the most reliable specialists on the circuit.

The 2025 season marked a turning point in his career. In addition to lifting the trophy in Madrid, Ruud also claimed the title in Stockholm. Consistency has become one of his greatest strengths, with the Norwegian winning at least one title every season since 2020.

In his day-to-day work in Mallorca, Ruud continues to train under the guidance of his father, Christian Ruud, and coach Pedro Clar, refining a game built on baseline solidity and outstanding competitive consistency.

With Madrid on the horizon, Casper Ruud faces a new challenge: defending his throne at the Caja Mágica and continuing to build a résumé that already places him among the leading figures of today’s clay-court game.