Towards the end of the frantic, tension-filled mixed doubles tussle between Poland and Norway at the United Cup in Sydney last Monday, Casper Ruud took a deep breath as he stood on top of the baseline alongside his partner, Ulrikke Eikeri, and prepared to serve. With a 4-3 lead in the third set tiebreak, the following minutes would determine Norway’s fate in the competition.
Ruud fired down a heavy topspin serve and then he traded forceful crosscourt groundstrokes with Poland’s Jan Zielinski from the left side of the court. But then, all of a sudden, his focus shifted. Ruud sharply changed directions, instead opting to hammer forehands down the line towards Iga Swiatek on the baseline in an attempt to overpower her.
