Guess which Broadway musical Rafael Nadal has seen almost seven times? Rafael Nadal’s love for music isn’t unknown to tennis fans. He has often spoken about how he can’t travel or sit idle without music. Recently, some ATP stars including Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev were spotted together playing a fun game of predicting the ‘name of the player who said that.’ Ruud has idolized Rafa since his childhood and he knows almost everything about his ‘Spanish Superhero’. But he failed to detect Rafael Nadal’s unexpected taste in loving musicals back in the day.

Ferocious on the court, Softie everywhere else? Well, Casper Ruud’s reaction upon realizing it was Nadal who had said that is truly worth watching! During the funny interactions, all the players were asked who said, “Every year I go to Broadway to see a musical. I saw ‘Phantom of the Opera’ like 6 or 7 times“? In reply, Casper Ruud first said, “I feel like I’ve heard this before. Either Novak or Roger. I’m going to go with Novak.” However, when he was told that it was incorrect, and Rafael Nadal was the right answer, the Norwegian tennis star was taken aback. He couldn’t believe it!

Ruud said, “Rafa, wow- I had no idea he liked that stuff.” Even Andrey Rublev couldn’t believe it was Rafa who had said these words. The Russian stated, “Impossible. What do you mean? For sure that’s a lie. I don’t trust this.” Earlier during an interview Rafael Nadal spoke about his fondness for classical music. He revealed, “I can listen opera, I can listen classic music, pop, rock. It is true that electronic music is not my one that is the only music I can’t. But the rest of the things depends on the moment, depends of the mood you are in.” But it seems as if electronic music is the only genre that he can’t listen to.

On the other hand, his fanboy, Casper Ruud is a big fan of The Weeknd! He was spotted multiple times attending The Weeknd concert. Although his musical tastes may be different, his love for tennis has brought him closer to his idol. Or is it the other way around?

“He’s been my biggest idol” – Casper Ruud portraying his admiration for Rafael Nadal

In 2021, during a conversation at the Beyond the Baseline podcast, the 25-year-old Norwegian tennis star called Nadal one of the greatest of all time. He revealed, “I’ve been a fan of him since I started watching tennis. He’s been my biggest idol and the one that I look up to the most of all the players.” Ruud told his fans how he wished to wish himself on the TV after seeing Rafael Nadal taking part in big tournaments. 

“So he’s one of the reasons I really wanted to go for a professional career, and I remember even from a young age when you’re eight or ten years old, its just a dream, but then you reach 12, 13, 14 and it becomes more of a realisation,” Casper Ruud added. Both the players have met each other twice in their careers before.

Currently, the Spaniard leads the H2H with a 2-0 margin. Do you think Casper Ruud will yet again get the chance to play against his idol this year?