Casper Ruud’s forehand betrayed him at the worst possible moment. The eighth seed found himself in trouble against Portugal’s Nuno Borges, down 1-4 in the first set at the 2025 Canadian Open.
Then came the mishit that had tennis fans wincing, a wayward forehand that sailed wide and smacked into a box near the net post. But sometimes the most embarrassing moments lead to the best comebacks.
How Did Casper Ruud Turn His Canadian Open Match Around After That Brutal Forehand Miss?
The Norwegian entered the Canadian Open as an eighth seed and received a direct entry into the second round, where he faced Roman Safiullin. He faced little resistance from his opponent in that match and comfortably won 6-3, 6-3.
However, Ruud faced an early test against Borges, falling behind 1-4 in the opening set. The Portuguese came close to tightening his grip with two chances for a 5-1 lead, but the 26-year-old held his nerve, turned the momentum around, and stormed back to claim the set 6-4.
The second set remained tightly contested, but Ruud raised his level to edge it 7-5, securing his 20th win of the season. His nine aces also played a crucial role in the victory, helping him overcome those forehand struggles that had plagued him throughout the match.
While the Norwegian’s resilience stood out, it was that mishit in the second set that caught everyone’s attention. During a rally at 30-30 in the opening game, Ruud’s forehand went completely awry, sending the ball wide and striking a box near the net post. A fan later shared the moment on Instagram, posting a short clip with the caption:
“Casper’s forehand for most of the match today ðŸ˜,” they wrote.
Casper’s forehand for most of the match today ðŸ˜#NBO25 pic.twitter.com/Rz4eU4K381
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) July 31, 2025
Ruud was quick to respond and acknowledge the error, while playfully expressing a desire to visit the Rafael Nadal Academy to refine his forehand technique.
“I think I need to take a trip to @rnadalacademy to fine tune the forehand banana passing shot..🤔😰😅,” he wrote.
I think I need to take a trip to @rnadalacademy to fine tune the forehand banana passing shot..🤔😰😅 https://t.co/lLWR2kJOiq
— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) August 1, 2025
The Rafa Nadal Academy, established by the 22-time Grand Slam champion in 2016, stands among the top tennis training centers globally.
Based in Manacor, Mallorca, the expansive campus includes 23 hard courts, 20 clay courts (13 outdoor, 7 semi-indoor), 12 padel courts (split evenly between indoor and outdoor), a football pitch, two swimming pools, and two squash courts. If anyone could help fix that wayward forehand, it would be the King of Clay himself.
Meanwhile, Ruud now turns his focus to 11th seed Karen Khachanov for their fourth-round clash at the Canadian Open. The Russian, who received a bye into the second round, began his campaign with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 win over Juan Pablo Ficovich. He then overcame a tough challenge from Emilio Nava in the third round, rallying to win 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-1.
Ruud will carry a psychological edge into the clash, having won both of his previous encounters with the Russian. The winner of this matchup will go on to face either Alex Michelsen or Learner Tien in the quarterfinals.
The Masters 1000 event in Toronto is Ruud’s second tournament since the French Open, having missed the entire grass-court swing due to injury. Despite that rough patch with his forehand against Borges, he’s making steady progress in the Canadian city.
