How Casper Ruud is giving back

Casper Ruud’s activities span much further than the lines that enclose a tennis court.

Aside from his golfing escapades and deep admiration for his favourite music artist, The Weeknd, the Norwegian places a lot on the importance of empowering children through sport and education.

Ruud assumed the role of Global Ambassador for the W Initiative in 2022 and hopes to reach out to young people by hosting an annual tennis event. The most recent edition took place on 15 September.

W Initiative is a humanitarian foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life for children and young people from diverse backgrounds, achieved through the support of projects in Norway, as well as abroad in countries such as Uganda and Fiji.

For a third consecutive year, the No. 9 in the PIF ATP Rankings took part in bringing tennis to a wider audience and interacted with the adults of tomorrow. It was a particularly warm occasion this time around as Ruud returned to his native Oslo, where he was once a child with a dream.

“Before coming here, I was aware of the good sporting results they have achieved,” Ruud explained at the recent event. “After today, I also see why. The work they do with children and young people is amazing to see.”

The event was held at Furuset IF Tennis, which was granted a one million NOK ($95,000 USD) donation from W Initiative for its aligning principles of bettering the quality of life and increasing the opportunities available for young people.

Ruud wasn’t the only household name from Norwegian tennis to be present. His father and coach, Christian Ruud, and countryman Viktor Durasovic, who has shared a team with Ruud at the United Cup and ATP Cup, were also on hand to impart their wisdom.

“It strikes me every time we do this, just how great the joy of sport can be,” chairman and founder of W Initiative Gustav M. Witzøe said. “For many of these children, this is their first encounter with organised sport.

“Us adults think about how important sport is for cohesion, inclusion and belonging. While the children are just having a lot of fun, not thinking at all, just doing.”

Ruud, who reached a career-high of No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2022, is back in action this week as the third seed at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo. The 25-year-old is currently sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and will face Australian Jordan Thompson with the hope of boosting his chances of qualification.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]