{"id":298574,"date":"2023-12-19T12:08:58","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T12:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298574"},"modified":"2023-12-19T12:08:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T12:08:58","slug":"ruud-slams-boring-critics-after-going-to-a-concert-in-the-middle-of-wimbledon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/tennis\/ruud-slams-boring-critics-after-going-to-a-concert-in-the-middle-of-wimbledon\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruud slams ‘boring’ critics after going to a concert in the middle of Wimbledon"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Casper Ruud has hit back at critics who thought that he didn\u2019t take Wimbledon and the grass season seriously because he chose to go to The Weeknd\u2019s concerts. The world No 11 didn\u2019t play any warm-up events because he went to two shows in Europe, and later went to a London gig after crashing out of the singles at Wimbledon. Ruud has now claimed that those who disagreed with his decision were \u201cboring\u201d and explained that players deserved to have lives outside of tennis.<\/p>\n

While Ruud has built a reputation on the tennis court – reaching three Grand Slam finals, winning 10 titles and peaking at No 2 in the world – he has also become known for one of his off-court interests. The 24-year-old is a huge fan of The Weeknd and made it known this summer when he went to three concerts during the grass-court season.<\/p>\n

Instead of playing a tour-level event like Queen\u2019s or Halle ahead of Wimbledon, the Norwegian went to the After Hours Til Dawn tour in Stockholm and Oslo. Ruud then competed at SW19 but crashed out to Liam Broady in the second round on July 6 and, a day later, he went to another Weeknd concert at the London Stadium while he was still in the doubles draw.<\/p>\n

Ruud received some backlash from those who thought he should have played more grass tournaments and was prioritising The Weeknd over Wimbledon. But the world No 11 stands by his decision to go to the concerts. \u201cI\u2019m happy I got to see him three times this summer and honestly I could\u2019ve watched him three times more no problem,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m a big fan and just love the concerts and the visuals that he brings to the concerts. It\u2019s incredible and when you watch your favourite artist perform there\u2019s almost no better feeling in the world.\u201d Ruud also pointed out that the concerts were in the evenings as he hit back at critics who had a \u201cboring life\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cSo people might question whether I took grass court serious enough or what but it\u2019s 10pm. We have a life outside of tennis as well. If people are going to question whether going to a concert or not is the best thing, they have a very boring life I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also may have been Ruud\u2019s final chance to see \u2018The Weeknd\u2019 as the artist, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, has hinted that he will no longer be performing under the moniker and could release music under another name. After seeing The Weeknd on the night of July 7, Ruud was back in action for his first-round doubles match at Wimbledon the following morning with William Blumberg.<\/p>\n