Supersititions, secrets and politics of the Australian Open: Tennis ace Casper Ruud has spilled them all

Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud has revealed the secrets of life on the Australian Open tour, including personality politics and his lucky charms.

Tennis star Casper Ruud has unpacked the secrets of life on the road 40 weeks a year. Picture: Mark Stewart

Tennis star Casper Ruud has unpacked the secrets of life on the road 40 weeks a year, lucky underwear superstitions and the politics of keeping nice with rivals.

The Norwegian ace, and world No.6, told the Herald Sun: “At the start your career, you look at everyone as a competitor. You think, ‘I want to beat him.’

“But as I grow older, I realise, we are competitors and when we’re on the court, it’s all business. But we’re also colleagues.

“You don’t want to have any bad blood with anyone. It’s better to be friendly. Of course, you might not always feel the same with everyone. Sometimes you’ll have disagreements.”

Ruud, 26, added: “In the Grand Slams, you have 128 players. I’ll only have one opponent today, but the other 127 are my colleagues. It’s an interesting dynamic.”

Ruud, a global ambassador for Samsonite visited the luggage brand at David Jones in Bourke St.

Ruud, a global ambassador for Samsonite visited the luggage brand at David Jones in Bourke Ste. Picture: Mark Stewart

“When I was younger, my mother would pack my bags. But I realised quickly that I like to know what’s actually in my bag; how many pairs of socks, and underwear, and if I didn’t bring my favourite pair. If I forget something or miss something, I don’t have anyone to blame.”

Does Ruud have a lucky pair of underwear?

“No, but, when you’re an athlete and you play well in a pair of underwear, you get very superstitious,” he answered. “It comes down to anything; the food you ate the night before, or what you had Yeah, being an athlete makes you crazy sometimes. These things mess with your head.”

Casper Ruud in action against Jaume Munar on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ruud said he doesn’t follow prematch rituals, but he has specific routines.

In Melbourne, he loves the city’s restaurants and tourist spots. He visited Werribee Zoo last week, and enjoys an occasional flutter at Crown Casino.

“Some players like to gamble a bit in the evenings, myself included,” Ruud said. “I’m not a big gambler, but it’s fun now and then, and more fun if you make money than go out empty-handed.”

Ruud also hit the love jackpot after recently proposing to his girlfriend Maria Galligani

“It was not overdue, but it was the right time,” Ruud said. “We grew up five minutes apart from each other. Our life is very simple.”

Ruud says those simple perspectives keep him grounded.

“I don’t consider myself above anyone else or a worldwide star or anything. I just play tennis,” he said. “Of course, some fame comes with it, but I’m still the same guy.”

He said life as a touring tennis pro is like “living on a hamster wheel.

“It keeps going and never really stops. You try to stay on that wheel for as long as possible, and stay injury free and happy with what you do.”