Papa Ruud

Extra motivation or a slight short-term loss of interest for father Casper?

That's the million-dollar question! The Norwegian hasn't played since the Australian Open, so it's been 21 days. No need to panic, though. He's been playing well in January, but with some dips in intensity against solid opponents. The conditions here are slow, hard outdoors, and often windy—perfect for him. He'll be able to work his opponents with his forehand. He could have gone to Doha/Dubai to see his wife and child before heading to Indian Wells, but once again, he's showing professionalism by going right here to Delray Beach, a tournament he's playing for the first time in his career. His opponent, Giron, is true to form and on a roll. He managed his match against Shimabukuro well, needing only a few adjustments. In terms of style, this match reminds me a bit of ADM vs. Ruud in the United Cup, where ADM struggled to adapt to Casper's lift and looping shots. But Giron also beat him at Indian Wells, for example. So the matchup and the conditions depend quite a bit on the form of both players. We have to be wary of a Ruud riding high and getting back into the swing of things, while also keeping in mind that he certainly won't be flawless.