Tennis courts have seen it all—epic matches, career-defining moments, and relationships that evolve just as dramatically as the sport itself. 

Friendships that once seemed unbreakable have turned into fierce rivalries, while heated tensions have sometimes cooled over time. 

A perfect example of this is the unfolding relationship between Casper Ruud and Nick Kyrgios. 

Once known for their public spats and mutual disdain, these two tennis stars now appear ready to turn the page and leave their animosity behind. 

Is this the dawn of a new friendship on the court?

Ruud has begun his US Open Campaign sensationally. 

After defeating Bu Yunchaokete in the first round, he managed to whisk out Gael Monfils to continue advancing in the tournament. But the situation was not the same for the star player a year ago. Playing at the same venue last year, the star player lost the second round of his tournament against, Zhang Zhizhen in a five-setter match. Interestingly, he played on the same date, and on the same courts just a year later, and changed his fate. 

When reminded about this, the Norwegian player let his true emotions come out. Speaking in the post-match interview, he said, “It was a tough 5 setter last year. So I wanted to get my revenge. It was a different player of course today. I’ll always have good memories coming back here but a few tough losses as well.” But what caught the attention of the tennis fans was a drastic change of heart from Ruud’s fiercest rival, Nick Kyrgios. 

Sharing the post about Ruud’s interview on X, the Australian player wrote, “Ruud going under the radar…… how times have turned, I really enjoy watching his tennis. Real talk 🗣️.” Kyrgios’ praise for the star player is surprising given the previous spats he and Ruud have found themselves engulfed in. The origin of their salty rivalry dates back to 2019. 

Playing at the Rome Masters 1000 back in May 2019, Kyrgios was able to come from a set down to force a decider. However, Ruud broke back to make it 1-1 in the third set. This made Kyrgios frustrated and he eventually received a game penalty for allegedly swearing at a line judge. Kyrgios smashed his racquet on the court and kicked a water bottle. He also picked up a chair from his players’ bench and threw it on the court, before finally leaving the court. 

Soon, Ruud was seen pumping in the air as he celebrated the victory. This led to some brutal exchanges between them on social media, with Kyrgios calling out Ruud for celebrating the victory despite winning it by the disqualification of his opponent. Ruud ultimately responded back to this a couple of months later in an interview with Tennisportalen in October 2019.

“He can say as much as he wants about me getting disqualified but it still says 1-0 to me. I don’t know, he was totally crazy when I played him. It was nice to win…It’s his problem that he’s an idiot on court.” Kyrgios was quick to take things into his own hands after Ruud’s remark. 

Taking to his X, the Aussie player then wrote, “Hey @CasperRuud98 next time you have something to say, I would appreciate you say it to my face, I’m sure you wouldn’t run your mouth so much after that.” He also claimed that Ruud’s matches are nothing short of boring. But these clashes seem to be a matter of the past as Kyrgios has now resonated with praise for his rival. However, this is not the first time that Kyrgios has changed his stance.

When Nick Kyrgios praised Casper Ruud’s discipline after feud

Nick Kyrgios and Casper Ruud might be one of the biggest rivalries on the courts, with both winning one match each. But Kyrgios has often acknowledged his admiration for Ruud’s game and has termed him as a disciplined player on tour. 

Speaking during his Citi Open campaign in 2021, the Aussie lauded Ruud for his third title win consecutively. “To win three back-to-back tournaments is not easy at all,” the Australian player said. “He’s got amazing discipline, obviously a great player. I never cut down his tennis. Great player. That works for him. If that’s what’s going to work best for his career, that’s great.”

As the ongoing US Open continues, it would be interesting to see if Ruud will also respond to Kyrgios’ praise. Will the two soon mark an end to their dispute? Well, only time will tell, but what remains certain is a show of strength for the Norwegian at the Flushing Meadows.

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Source: USA Today