Is wearing a nasal strip during matches a new trend in the tennis world? Both Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud had a disappointing outing at the 2025 Australian Open, but they have bounced back and interestingly, what might have aided their performance is the nasal strip. Ruud has reached the final in Dallas, while Alcaraz is also just one step away from clinching the title in Rotterdam. But why have both been playing with a nasal strip? Let’s find out.

As per the Sleep Foundation, nasal strips are “adhesive strips placed on the nose to widen nostrils and increase airflow.” According to multiple reports, these strips improve breathing by reducing air resistance in the nasal passages. Carlos Alcaraz was the one who introduced it first at the 2024 ATP Finals! Prior to that tournament, the Spaniard was suffering from a cold and it got much worse as he arrived in Turin. He was spotted with a pink color nasal tape at that time and he even admitted after one of his matches that the strip helped him breathe better. “For me, it helped a lot today. I could breathe much better. I tried to forget about I’m not feeling well, I’m sick, and deliver really good tennis,” the Spaniard said.

And it’s for the same reason he is using it in Rotterdam as well. “I’m not feeling 100% well yet. I caught a cold when I was at home, but I’m feeling better every day. It [nose strip] doesn’t fasten things [recovery]; it’s for my health,” Carlitos revealed.

But why do we have Casper Ruud wear a similar nasal strip during his matches in Dallas. Well, let’s hear it from Ruud himself.

“Yeah, it’s just a kind of interesting little gimmick I bought online, not on eBay, but another kind of interesting, maybe shady webpage. I bought it to try during sleep because when I’m back home in Norway and it’s cold during the winter, I wake up and my nose is blocked in a way. Whatever happens overnight, I’m not sure but I always have to blow my nose a lot in the morning so I thought maybe it can get a little more air in there and see how it works,” Ruud said.

Continuing further, he added, “I thought, why not try to bring it to practice, it feels like I’m breathing better so just a few percentages extra of oxygen through the nose, that’s what it’s about. For me, it works. Maybe it’s a placebo or whatever, but I feel like it works. I’ve been playing quite well with it so why not keep it going.”

While Carlos Alcaraz will face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the final of the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, Ruud will face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in Dallas. The Norwegian made it to the summit clash with a 6-2,2-6,7-6(4) victory over Spain’s Jaume Munar in the semifinals. What did Ruud have to say after his hard-fought victory over Munar?

“Played a little bit of a poor game” – Casper Ruud on his performance against Jaume Munar

It was a narrow escape for the world number 5 in the semis at Dallas. He described his three-set win over Jaume Munar as “Two and half hours of pretty tense play.” There was a moment when Munar was serving for the match in the tenth game of the final set. However, Ruud somehow managed to get back on level terms with 5-5 and dragged the set into a tie-breaker.

Reflecting on the thrilling encounter, Ruud said, “Second and third set (Munar) really stepped it up. He kind of fired up, I played a little bit of a poor game. I went for a little too much, the right play but just made unforced errors. Some really close games in the third.” Ruud felt a bit sorry for his Spanish opponent as he’s well used to the feeling of losing matches by close margins. The 26-year-old didn’t forget to emphasize that he was quite fortunate to have ended this match on the right side.

Casper Ruud is now eyeing his 13th career title. Not only that, he also has a chance to win his third consecutive final after his previous triumphs at Barcelona and Geneva. His opponent Shapovalov is also keen to bring home his third ATP title. If he manages to beat Ruud in the final on Sunday, it will be the third time within a week that he will beat a top-10 player. He defeated America’s Tommy Paul (9) in the semis by 7-5,6-3!

Speaking on his performance against the American, Shapovalov said, “I lost my rhythm a little bit after I had a stomach virus in Hong Kong. I’m really happy I was able to get it back and I’ve been serving and playing exceptionally well this week.”

There is a lot at stake for Shapovalov as well. It will be interesting to see if he overcomes Casper Ruud’s mighty challenge to clinch his first trophy above ATP 250 level on Sunday. Who’s your pick in this mega duel? Let us know in the comments below.