Tennis Star Casper Ruud Slams Social Media Trolls and Betting Woes

In a recent press conference at the Stockholm Open, Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud addressed several issues facing professional players. One of the key topics was the rise of social media trolling, which Ruud believes is often fueled by angry bettors who lost money on his matches.

"Unfortunately, it has become a common thing for athletes due to bettors who have no filter and no shame about what they are writing," Ruud said. He tries to avoid reading the hateful comments, as he sees them as the "dark side" of the betting world.

Ruud also discussed the myth of "bigger prize money" in professional tennis. Despite the growing purses at ATP Masters events, Ruud explained that early-round exits can still lead to unexpected financial strain. With tournaments like Indian Wells and Miami having expanded draws, players who lose in the first round are still responsible for two weeks of expenses.

"If you lose in the first round of Indian Wells, let's say, you have Miami in two weeks, so that's two weeks of expenses, for living, eating, salaries of the team," Ruud said. While players do receive bonuses and profit-sharing, Ruud acknowledged it's a "give or take" situation.

Additionally, Ruud shared that he's not a fan of the two-week Masters event format, as it means "more traveling, more nights away from your home." He praised the quicker format of the Monte Carlo and Paris Masters, but recognized the longer events are in the best interest of the sport, providing more income and prize money.