Casper Ruud makes hilarious joke about Rafael Nadal after winning Bastad doubles

Casper Ruud did not hide that he was very happy with the doubles match with Rafael Nadal this week, but he also made a hilarious joke. He said that the 38-year-old Spaniard is too old to have to wait for rain multiple times during matches.

After signing up to play doubles together in Bastad, Ruud and Nadal began their run in Bastad on Monday with a convincing 6-4 6-1 victory over second-seeded Guido Andreozzi and Miguel Reyes-Varela 6-4 6-1.

Although the match lasted only one hour and nine minutes, it was interrupted twice by rain. And then a happy Ruud decided to joke a little about the whole situation.

“As Rafa said, I think it was a good match. Regarding the rain delays, I’m more used to it than Rafa, since I’m from Norway and he’s from Spain. He’s getting old, so I don’t know how his body feels when he has to stop and start all the time, but he did well. We played good doubles and it was really nice to share the court with Rafa as always,” Ruud said.

What Ruud said about accepting Nadal’s invitation

Ruud, 25, rarely plays doubles and before Bastad he only played five times in doubles this year. But when his idol Nadal contacted him and asked if he was interested in becoming his doubles partner in Bastad, the 25-year-old Norwegian didn’t have to think twice.

“Rafa sent a message and asked. Normally I don’t play doubles, but when Rafa asks, it’s easy to say yes,” Ruud said.

Meanwhile, Nadal said of Ruud: “It’s a pleasure to play with a good friend and a great player like Casper here in Bastad.”

In the quarter-finals of the doubles in Bastad, Ruud and Nadal will play against Mariano Navone and Cameron Norrie or Theo Arribage and Roman Safiullin.

It remains to be seen whether Ruud and Nadal can beat Bastad on their doubles debut.