New York. He’s already the most famous Norwegian in New York since Mats Zuccarello took to court at Madison Square Garden – and he celebrates just as well with his beloved “Ruuuuuuud” songs.
Tonight, Casper Rudd could also win his and his country’s first Grand Slam title – and become the world number one.
But to fulfill this dream, Bjorn Borg from Oslo will undoubtedly have to get the match of his life against a young Spanish bull that seems untamable.
That’s how they cried in the garden when Mats Zuccarello He did his amazing artistic numbers in New York Rangers jersey (and still screams at the times he came here with the current Minnesota Wild):
– too much!
Now another artist from Norway with a proper U – yes, two – in his last name has fallen New York and a similar howl can be heard dusting off his stunning passes at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens:
– Ruuuuuud!
And the Casper Road He truly deserves the same NYC love as Zucca. His serve might not have the same shine as fellow hockey player’s finest passes to Mika Zibanijad, but my two Oslo sons still share many traits: charisma, skill, sense of the ball, coolness and performance. The best in the most dangerous moments.
Casper played top-level tennis in all of the matches leading up to the day’s escalation, but on occasional occasions he got into trouble – and only then would he always hit his most amazing balls.
Several days later, I’m still thinking about some of the above permissions. When the opponents were overpowered and the attack began, it is as if he saw surfaces and angles that no one else had seen and put the balls there.
Meaningless, is the word.
In addition, he gives, in the same way as the greatest in the history of Norwegian hockey, a strikingly humble, friendly and sympathetic impression. This – along with the holy fighting spirit – always hits home in New York.
However, for the entire US Open party to end with Ruuuuuud’s howl that reverberates over Flushing Meadows, the youngster needs to go up another category or two in the biggest match of his life yet. Yes, he also played the final in Paris at the beginning of the summer, but that’s bigger. He said it himself. If he wins, he will not only save Norway’s first major historical title – but become de facto number one in the world.
For the sake of good neighborliness
But so for the opponent, the opponent is undoubtedly the most difficult challenge yet. Only 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard who was expected to be a key player in an imminent paradigm shift in the world’s top-tier tennis, played more phenomenal tennis if possible at Arthur Ashe Court – and showed even more amazing strength when he was His knee joints should turn. In overcooked spaghetti.
He had match balls against him and saved them. He burned his match balls without bothering him. He missed the in-between breaks in the most devastating way – and like Southern Spaniard Bjorn Borg he kept pumping as if nothing had happened.
Sometimes it feels too small to understand that he will become everything others become when a lifelong dream is about to collapse: tense, frustrated, stressed, afraid and anxious.
Senor Alcaraz reminds us of a particular Spanish bull that Swedes usually celebrate at Christmas. It is impossible to control and tame it, like …
But let’s still hope our Norwegian friend can get to it somehow.
For the neighbor’s sake – and because hearing that roar again would be a wonderful experience:
– Ruuuuuud!