"Alexander Zverev was really close to being No. 1, I know that feeling" - Casper Ruud on being 'sad' about German's ankle injury at French Open 2022

Casper Ruud recently reminisced about Alexander Zverev losing his chance to rise to a career-high ATP ranking of No. 1 two years ago. The Norwegian could admittedly relate to the German's misfortune, as he had also previously been a match-win away from taking the reins of the top spot on the men's tour.

Zverev achieved his career-high ranking of No. 2 during the claycourt season in 2022. The 23-time ATP Tour titlist, however, rolled his right ankle during his semifinal bout against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros that year. He subsequently called time on his season as he had admittedly torn several ligaments in his foot and would fall outside the top 20 men's rankings later.

Since then, Alexander Zverev has worked incredibly hard to get back to the World No. 2 position. Casper Ruud, who lost to him in straight sets at the ATP Finals on Wednesday (November 13), praised the 27-year-old for regaining his movement and confidence this year.

The World No. 7 also claimed that he was "shocked and sad" when Alexander Zverev suffered his ankle injury after being so close to becoming the top-ranked player on the ATP Tour — a prospect that he also failed to capitalize on at the 2022 US Open.

"He [Alexander Zverev] broke almost every ligament in his foot when he twisted his ankle," Ruud said during his post-match press conference in Turin on Wednesday. "In the beginning when you come back, you're still probably thinking about uncertainty when you move, to step down, to take the right steps. You don't want it to happen again.

"You can see now he's moving freely, sliding on clay and hard court. He's able to do that. I was really shocked and sad for him when it happened because he was really close to being world No. 1 I remember," he added. 'I think in theory, he was one or two match wins away from being No. 1. I also know that feeling."

Ruud was one of the few players who were in contention for the World No. 1 position at the US Open two years ago as Daniil Medvedev — the top-ranked player and the defending champion at the time — had exited the tournament in the fourth round. He had a good showing at Flushing Meadows, reaching his second-career Major title match.

However, Ruud was denied 4-6, 6-2, 6-7(1), 3-6 by Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Alcaraz claimed the top-ranking spot as a result, and the Norwegian had to settle for the World No. 2 position.

---

"Alexander Zverev deserves to be World No. 1" - Casper Ruud

Alexander Zverev hits a backhand at ATP Finals 2024

During the press conference, Casper Ruud further insisted that Alexander Zverev was a suitable candidate for the World No. 1 ranking and a Major triumph in the future.

"I think he deserves to be it in his career," Ruud said. "He's also may be missing a Grand Slam to say that his career is maybe like really complete because he won everything else."

Ruud, meanwhile, has gone 1-1 in his round-robin matches at this week's ATP Finals thus far. He will be eager to qualify for the semifinals of the elite tournament when he takes on eighth-seeded Andrey Rublev.