Casper Ruud has called for ‘respect’ to be shown to the players entering the Rio Open this week, as they are faced with challenging conditions and soaring temperatures in Brazil.
The ATP 500 event began on February 15 and sees some of the star names on the tour go head-to-head in the exotic climate of Rio de Janeiro, one of Brazil’s biggest cities.
This year, teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, 18, will be playing in front of his home crowd for the first time after his breakthrough tournament at the Australian Open in January.
And while Fonseca may be able to adapt to the climate in his native land, Ruud detailed the brutal toll that the sizzling heat could have on his fellow professionals.
The Norwegian posted an image to his X account (formerly Twitter), with a screenshot of Apple’s weather app claiming that Rio de Janeiro temperatures would be soaring to around 37 degrees celsius with lows of 26C.
This figure could still rise even higher to the mid-40s during Carnival week, making it difficult for tennis stars to cope, as February is often the hottest month of the Brazilian summer.
And the 26-year-old demanded that supporters in the Brazilian city appreciate the effort of the tennis stars taking part in the tournament while the mercury continues to rise.
“Put some respect to the names of all players competing at the @RioOpenOficial this week!!” Ruud wrote on X, scattering his tweet with several ‘sweaty’ emojis. “Possibly the toughest physical test you will find on the @atptour Incredible effort!!”
Despite not playing there this year, the Rio Open holds a special place in Ruud’s heart after winning his first main draw ATP match there in 2017. He went on to reach the semi-finals before bowing out of the tournament.
Ruud is one of the more outspoken players on the ATP Tour, having criticised fans in the past for their online comments. But he is a passionate advocate for fairness in the game, makng him a respected figure amongst his peers.
The Rio Open has proved to be something of a launchpad for South American players over the years, with as many as 20 players representing six nations from the continent for the 2024 tournament.
The clay-court event marks a week-long tennis festival in Rio, where even Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have competed in recent years.
World No.2 Alexander Zverev has been handed the top seed, while other notable names including Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry are taking part.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk