I Think I Can Challenge the Best for Slams – Tennis Now
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 20, 2025
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Nordic Open Facebook
Casper Ruud played his best match of the year capturing his 14th career championship in Stockholm.
Now, the former world No. 2 has set his sights on an even greater goal: Winning a maiden Grand Slam title.
Two-time French Open finalist Ruud told journalist Nicholas Albek of SpilXperten he believes he can challenge world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and second-ranked Jannik Sinner in Grand Slam play.
“I feel that I still haven`t reached my peak and that I still have more in the tank. I think a match like this shows that I still have more in the tank,” Ruud told Nicholas Albek. “It is a different scenario at a Grand Slam with best of five sets and these things.
“We don`t have a Slam indoor, but if I can play this aggressively and with the same conviction on hardcourt I think I can challenge the best players in the world.”
The Ruud serve was a major weapon in his Stockholm title run. Ruud won 36 of 39 service points and set up several first-strike forehands in his sweep of Ugo Humbert in the final.
Though Alcaraz and Sinner have swept eight straight Grand Slam championships, Ruud believes while the world’s Top 2 seem invincible, they are not unbeatable.
“That is what you want to do and of course, we have two guys up front who are at times almost unplayable and unbeatable, but at the same time they are also human and there are 40-50 players behind them who want to beat them,” Ruud said. “Sometimes some of them do and I would like to think that anything can happen.
“But of course, they have separated themselves and have proved everyone that they are in a bit of a league of their own, but it doesn`t stop me at least from believing they are also human and some days of the year beatable.”
