When Casper Ruud won the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open, it was a full-circle moment for the Norwegian.
While it marked a long-awaited ATP Masters 1000 title, Ruud’s victory ultimately brought him back 16 years to his first Caja Mágica visit. That experience was made possible by a very special 10th birthday gift from his grandmother Liv, as Ruud would share following his final-round win over Jack Draper last May.
“I said I wanted to watch tennis, and Madrid was a good option. I have relatives who lived in Madrid, so we stayed with them and came for two days to watch the tennis,” he recalled.
“I remember I got Novak’s autograph, and I watched Rafa, Roger and Soderling. I also saw Tommy Haas practicing. I loved every minute watching the players play, with my grandmother. She has a photo of me and you can see the excitement on my face. It’s incredible, it’s a dream come true to have this trophy here.”
