Casper Ruud takes aim at ATP Tour points system after feeling 'obligated' to compete while battling ;knee injury
Casper Ruud has taken aim ATP ranking system for making players feel obligated to compete in tournaments while injured in order to sustain their professional career.
The world No.8 was eliminated in the second round at the Roland Garros against the unseeded Nuno Borges, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday (AEST).
Ruud was hindered by a knee injury throughout the match, a lingering issue which he has noted several times throughout the current clay-court season.
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Ruud admitted he has been taking pain killers to help with the injury as he would not consider withdrawing from tournaments unless he felt he could not compete.
The only tournament the Norwegian has withdrawn from in the past month was the Geneva Open, which was scheduled just one week prior to the Roland Garros.
Casper Ruud receives medical treatment during his second round match against Nuno Borges. Getty
When asked why he has not elected to take time away from the Tour to make a full recovery from the injury, Ruud exposed the harsh realities of the sport.
"For me, I know these weeks and months are really important for the remaining (tournaments) of the year and for my career," he said.
"Of course, if my leg is broken, I won't play. But it's tough anyways, especially when there's a time with mandatory events. To skip them, it is quite hard, in terms of everyone else will play, gain points and you won't.
"It's kind of like a rat race when it comes to the rankings as well. You feel like you lose a lot - both economically and rankings wise - if you don't show up and play."
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Nuno Borges greets Casper Ruud at the net after his victory. Getty
The current Tour schedule has been criticised by many of athletes on the Tour, with ATP 1000 events extended to play over a two week period.
Players are also subject to compete in a total of 13 mandatory events across the annual calendar, which include the four grand slam events, eight Masters 1000 events and the Nitto ATP Finals which are held at the end of the season.
Additionally, leading (top ranked) players are required to enter at least four 500 events, one of which must be played following the US Open.
Such simple change raised questions about player wellbeing as several athletes continue to endure short recovery turnarounds and race from city-to-city to compete.
Casper Ruud of Norway during his match against Nuno Borges. Getty
But Ruud noted that if players are not to meet these requirements they receive a zero score towards their world ranking, which impacts there qualifications for tournaments.
"You feel you're obligated to play (due to) the certain rules that the ATP have set up, with the mandatory events," said Ruud.
"There's a certain bonus system set up that is reduced if you don't show up to the mandatory events... You're kind of forcing players to show up injured or sick, or whatever, when that is not what I think is very fair.
"It's a questionable system because on one hand you don't want to show up injured and give the spot to another (player).
"I'm just looking forward to not being on pain killers for some days now. Let it really heal and rest and see where I am at in a few weeks."
