Casper Ruud is turning his focus to the Italian Open in Rome, eager to shake off a disappointing title defense in Madrid and rediscover his winning form on clay. The Norwegian star, widely recognized for his exceptional skills on the surface, saw his Madrid campaign cut short in the quarterfinals by rising Belgian talent Alexander Blockx, who secured a straight-sets victory (6-4, 6-4).

Ruud's 2026 clay season got off to a rocky start, with an early exit at Monte-Carlo following a calf injury that forced him to retire during his round-of-16 match against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Despite those struggles, he managed to notch three wins in Madrid, including a dramatic comeback against Stefanos Tsitsipas where he saved two match points to complete the turnaround.

Now, as he prepares for Rome's ATP Masters 1000 event—his third and final clay stop of the year—Ruud believes the conditions at the Italian Open will play to his strengths. "I think just getting my heavier forehand going," he told Tennis TV when discussing his approach. "Seeing that the courts are a bit slower, it's easier to come around a few extra shots."

Ruud highlighted the stark contrast between Madrid and Rome, noting, "From Madrid to here are probably the biggest differences you'll have in the clay court season—going from a fast altitude, fast-playing court to a slower one here in Rome. The clay is rougher, thicker, and makes the ball really slow down. It takes a few days to adjust, which I'm still doing, but I have a few more days to prepare."

Reflecting on his season so far, Ruud remained philosophical. "I've had a couple of good wins and a bit of misfortune in Monte Carlo with a calf problem. In Madrid, I just played someone who executed a better match than me in the quarterfinal (Blockx). That's as simple as that."

With his eyes set on a strong run in Rome, Ruud added, "I find these conditions suiting my game well, and hopefully they can continue to do so in the coming weeks." For fans of the sport, this could be the turning point the Norwegian needs to reignite his clay-court campaign.