"You feel like you're in his backyard" - Casper Ruud highlights challenge of facing Rafael Nadal on clay vs Novak Djokovic on hard-courts

Casper Ruud believes facing Rafael Nadal on clay is tougher than facing Novak Djokovic on hard-courts. The Norwegian tennis star shed light on the level of difficulty facing the Spaniard on clay, who he felt was playing as if 'in his backyard' during their French Open final last season.

Ruud's only match against Nadal on clay so far has been the 2022 Roland Garros final, which the latter won 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to clinch his 14th title at the clay-court Major. Meanwhile, he has come up against Djokovic twice on hard-courts, both in indoor conditions at the ATP Finals, and lost both those matches.

The World No. 4, who is one of the top seeds at Indian Wells this week where both Nadal and Djokovic are missing out, shed light on the respective challenges and the difference between facing the two tennis greats on their favored surfaces.

Ruud admitted that Nadal left him clueless on clay, a surface on which the 24-year-old has won eight of his nine ATP singles titles so far.

"Rafa on clay has been the one that really I felt clueless what to do and chanceless as well," Casper Ruud said in a pre-tournament press conference at Indian Wells when asked who was tougher to face on their favorite surface.

"It was really a one-way show, we played at Roland Garros last year and particularly best-of-5 sets is really difficult."

While Ruud stressed that playing against Djokovic on hard-courts is also an incredibly difficult challenge because of the quality of tennis he is able to produce in tough moments, he further pointed out that the sustained pressure from Nadal on clay point after point makes it tougher to face him on clay. Roland Garros is Nadal's home ground, stated Ruud.

"Not taking anything away from Novak because whenever its important on a hard-court, he steps up. He'll break you or play some unreal rally," he continued.

"But just the general feeling every point being thrown at you with an incredible amount of top-spin or how Rafa just locks you in one corner. You feel like you're on his home ground and in his backyard. For me that was some of the most difficult opponents I've ever played."

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"It sort of seems like you're playing a Grand Slam" - Casper Ruud on playing at Indian Wells

Casper Ruud also threw some light on playing at Indian Wells, which is often referred to as the fifth Grand Slam of tennis. The Norwegian said that he understands why Indian Wells has earned that tag, given his experience at the venue over the years, particularly while playing on the main court, Stadium One. Ruud enjoys the atmosphere at the event in California.

"It is a little bit different because the stadium is so big. It sort of seems like you're playing a Grand Slam when you're out on the center court," Casper Ruud said on the same.

"The facilities are incredible and the fans also make it really special. I understand why it is referred to as the fifth Major."

The 2022 US Open finalist will begin his Indian Wells campaign against Diego Schwartzman in the Round of 64 on Saturday. He was placed in the same quarter of the draw as Daniil Medvedev, who has won 14 consecutive matches. Ruud last played at the Mexican Open, where he lost in the Round of 16.