The men’s doubles pair of Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud advanced into the semifinal of the Nordea Open by defeating the pair of Theo Arribage and Roman Safiullin on July 17. Ruud’s sister Charlotte and Nadal’s sister Maribel joked about playing doubles with their brothers following the win.
After the match, Ruud’s sister Charlotte posted an image on her Instagram story of herself with Ruud and Nadal. She captioned the image:
“So, who’s up for mixed doubles?”
Charlotte Ruud’s Instagram Story. (Source: Instagram @charlotte.ruud)
Charlotte Ruud’s Instagram Story. (Source: Instagram @charlotte.ruud)
Charlotte is also a tennis player. She is currently ranked at 1795 in the ITF junior ranking.
Nadal’s sister Maribel reposted Charlotte’s story on her Instagram and wrote:
“I’m ready for a doubles match between brothers… Are you in?”
Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud secured a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 victory against second seed Miguel Ángel Reyes-Varela and Guido Andreozzi in the first round.
In the quarterfinals clash against Arribage and Safiullin, Nadal and Ruud won the first set 6-4 but lost the second set 3-6. In the match tiebreak, the Spanish and Norwegian pairing were down 9-10 but they saved the match point and went on to win three straight points and the match 12-10.
Rafael Nadal is soaking in the atmosphere at the Nordea Open during the doubles event with Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud and Rafael Nadal at the Nitto ATP Finals. (Source: GETTY)
After the men’s doubles quarterfinal at the Nordea Open, Rafael Nadal praised the atmosphere in Bastad. He was impressed with the level of tennis and how the crowd filled the stadium for a doubles match.
“I think we had some fun… It has been an emotional match at the end, a good level of tennis against two good players. We enjoy it and the crowd was amazing, a full crowd in a doubles match, that’s fantastic. Just enjoying every single day here,” Nadal said.
Nadal and Casper Ruud also took part in the singles event at the ATP 250 tournament. The Spaniard defeated tennis legend Bjorn Borg’s son Leo in the first round 6-3, 6-4 and prepares to take on fifth seed Cameron Norrie in the second round on Thursday, July 18.
Meanwhile, the third-seed Norwegian fell to unseeded Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in the first round 6-3, 6-3. Following his win in the doubles quarterfinal alongside Nadal, he said:
“When you cannot win singles you have to try to win doubles… It was not the best beginning of the day but a very nice way to finish the day for me… Winning alongside Rafa was a special doubles today. We saved a match point so a bit lucky, and we look forward to the next match.”
Nadal and Ruud are preparing for the upcoming Olympic Games that will be played in Paris on the clay courts of the Roland Garros grounds.