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Casper Ruud admits it felt "extra special" to him to have Roger Federer in the stands watching his Laver Cup match. On Saturday, Team Europe's Ruud defeated Tommy Paul of Team World 7-6 (6) 6-2 at the Laver Cup in Vancouver.
Federer, who retired from pro tennis after last year's Laver Cup, is one of the founders of the event and he came to Vancouver to follow action from the stands. “When Roger is in the stands, it’s extra special. You want to deliver.
You want to play well. I tried to learn from last year. It wasn’t easy. I was like a kid in a candy store being around the four greatest players ever,” Ruud said.
Ruud felt 'nervous' when watched by Federer last year
Last year, Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray all took part in the Swiss' farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup in London.
With that being said, whoever competed in the 2022 Laver Cup was watched by the Big Four. Ruud beat Jack Sock at the Laver Cup last year but he felt nervous throughout the match. "Last year in London, I was probably even more nervous because we had Roger, Rafa, Novak, and Andy watching.
Looking over at the bench was motivating but also nerve-racking. Told him [Fils] he'll do fine," Ruud said at the start of the Laver Cup. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Ruud may get a chance to be coached by Federer at the Laver Cup one day.
In Vancouver, Federer was asked if he'd be open to captaining Team Europe one day. "Yes, I mean, why not? One day. I don't think right away, but I am absolutely open to the thought and the idea to have great captains, assistant captains or also co-captains, whatever you want to call it.
But, just want to give back to the game in any type of form and, of course, being a captain of the Laver Cup would be definitely one of those things," Federer said.