Casper Ruud is currently turning heads in the tennis world with his outstanding on-court performance at Roland Garros. While the 25-year-old Norwegian continues his ascent to the top, behind the scenes lies the support of his mother, Lele Ruud. But, very few people know that his mother was herself a professional tennis player back in the day. Although her career in tennis came to a halt in the 1990s, her achievements in tennis speak volumes!

Casper Ruud is gearing up for his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev in Paris. However, the elder son of Lele Ruud, Casper’s accolades in tennis are incomplete without mentioning the enormous sacrifice made by his mother in his childhood. Lele, who accompanied Casper Ruud to all the tournaments as a kid, played a huge role in creating a sense of intrigue in her son about tennis.

Not only that, but her emotional and financial support for him helped the former world No. 2 conquer his dreams in the racquet sport. Be it balancing a tennis career with academics or encouraging him to continue to play tennis professionally, Lele Ruud was always there, pushing her son for success. 

After all, she herself understood the sport of playing tennis on-court. As a pro tennis player, her achievements were not as high as those of her husband ( Christian Ruud) or her son. But still, her contributions to tennis are notable. Not only did she win several titles for her nation, Norway, Lele Ruud also made a mark in the ITF tournaments as well. 

Taking part in various lower-level events in the professional regime, Casper Ruud’s mother’s journey in tennis continued.

• As a significant player in the Fed Cup for Norway, Lele Ruud went on to win six of the fourteen matches played in that event.
• She also achieved a place in the top 500 career rankings (457) in singles.
• But in doubles, she enjoyed a comparatively higher rank (292).

However, the tennis world last saw her on-court during the late 1990s. Soon after giving birth to Casper Ruud, his mother put her racquet to rest, focusing on raising her children and encouraging them to fulfill their dreams in sports.

A mother of three, Lele Ruud’s focus shifted from tennis as she found solace in charity work.

• A new journey began for her as she started to spread awareness about tennis among underprivileged children in various countries, including Norway.
• Lele Ruud also manages the Casper Ruud Foundation, which aims to support young players as they pursue their dreams in tennis. 

Although off-the-court Lele Ruud likes to stay away from the spotlight, whenever her son is playing on-court, she can be seen enjoying his performance in the player’s box. And utilizing this support, Casper Ruud is now onto playing the “biggest tournaments’ ” semi final match this year.

Casper Ruud is optimistic about his French Open run this season

Casper Ruud has already made history in the tennis world by being the highest ranked Norwegian player. However, the 25-year-old’s journey in tennis is far from over. The Norwegian tennis pro has surpassed five of his opponents to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros, vying for his first grand slam. 

However, before that, he previously said, “This is one of the biggest tournaments for me and for everyone every year. One of my highlights. I’m always looking forward to it. The last two years have given me so much here in Paris.”

Casper Ruud continued, “I hope I can make it another good year.I think it’s been a good clay season for me. Madrid and Rome could’ve gone a bit better. It wasn’t what I hoped for. But other results went well. All in all, I’m happy.”

The world now waits to see his next performance at Roland Garros. But whether he wins or not, the contribution of his family to the tennis world will always be remembered.