The camaraderie between Casper Ruud and World No. 2 Iga Świątek was clearly evident at the Madrid Open. The former eventually prevailed at the 1000-level event, meanwhile, the latter, who was the defending champion, received disappointment with a semifinal exit.
Both players drew moral support from each other despite the differing outcomes —let’s take a closer look at how it unfolded.
The Mutual Support Between Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud at the 2025 Madrid Open
Świątek has had deep runs in several tournaments this season, but she couldn’t convert them into a triumph. It also happened with her at the 2025 Madrid Open.
The Pole defeated Alexandra Eala, Linda Noskova, Diana Shnaider, and the reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys to reach the semifinals, eventually facing a devastating 1-6, 1-6 loss to Coco Gauff. Moreover, she also received a code violation from the umpire after hitting a shot into the net during the second set and muttering a few derogatory words in Polish.
Additionally, during a changeover in the second set, the World No. 2 covered her head with a towel and seemingly cried. While the Pole dealt with the ordeal, Ruud offered support by posting a motivational message online. The Norwegian shared a clip of Świątek in tears on X, encouraging her to “keep her head up” during this tough time.
“Hey @iga_swiatek keep your head up🙏🙏 Like millions of other people I love watching you play. Not your day today, but you inspire so many and you’ll be back stronger than ever!!😊🤩👏”
Hey @iga_swiatek keep your head up🙏🙏
Like millions of other people I love watching you play. Not your day today, but you inspire so many and you’ll be back stronger than ever!!😊🤩👏🎾 https://t.co/zV2lQE4kKq— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) May 1, 2025
Ruud, meanwhile, had a stellar run in Madrid, defeating Arthur Rinderknech, Sebastian Korda, Taylor Fritz, and Daniil Medvedev before clinching a straight-set win over Francisco Cerúndolo in the semifinals. The 26-year-old eventually beat Jack Draper 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the final to win his first Masters 1000 title.
Furthermore, the Norwegian’s triumph was later acknowledged by Świątek. The 23-year-old demonstrated her support for Ruud by sharing his official Madrid Open victory poster on her Instagram story and writing:
“So so cool. Congrats Casper Ruud.”
Notably, just days earlier during his Madrid Open press conference, Ruud spoke candidly about his mental struggles with the demanding ATP calendar, comparing life on tour to running in a “hamster wheel.”
Casper Ruud Was Happy With His Playing Style at the Madrid Open Final
Ruud was seemingly pleased with his Madrid Open win, a feat he had wanted to achieve since his childhood. He admitted that he needed to be at his best to avoid being outplayed by Draper.
“It feels great, of course. It’s been a long time coming,” said Ruud. “[This was] one of the really big goals I dreamed about when I was young, so it’s an incredible feeling to accomplish it,” he said.
“Also the way I did it today, it was a great match. I knew Jack had been playing unbelievable all year, and especially in this tournament, so I knew that if I didn’t bring my A-plus game, I was going to be whooped around the court,” he added.
Ruud hit peak form in 2022, climbing to a career-high No. 2 in the ATP rankings after reaching the finals of both the French Open and the US Open. He last appeared in a Grand Slam final at the 2023 French Open. The Madrid Open win marked Ruud’s second ATP title since winning the Geneva Open last year.
The 26-year-old, who was ranked No. 15 before the Madrid Open, jumped eight spots to reach the No. 7 position in the ATP rankings.