Casper Ruud Forced to Retire as Tennis Scheduling Takes Huge Toll at Shanghai Masters

Casper Ruud arrived at the 2025 Shanghai Masters with a wave of hard-earned confidence, poised to make a strong push for a coveted spot in the ATP Finals. Just weeks before, the Norwegian had triumphed at the Madrid Open, a significant title that he stated brought him unexpected joy and relief.

He carried this renewed belief into the Asian swing, reflecting, “I’ve played several very good matches lately. I felt great in San Francisco, and continuing that level of play in Beijing meant a lot to me. Overcoming jet lag and the hardships of a long journey. Avoiding the first match of the tournament, where I was close to losing, changed something in my mind and my tennis.”

After a stellar run to the semifinals in Tokyo, where he nearly defeated Carlos Alcaraz, and a solid performance in Beijing, Ruud was optimistic about leveraging his current form in Shanghai to accumulate crucial points in the Race to Turin. However, Ruud’s campaign at the Shanghai Masters was abruptly cut short during his Round of 64 match against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs. As reported by edgeAI on X, in a dramatic and unfortunate conclusion, Ruud was forced to retire from the contest while trailing 1-4 in the third set.

The match had been a tough battle, with Ruud taking the first set 6-3 before Bergs fought back to claim the second set 7-5. Also, this early exit is a particular setback for Ruud, for whom the Shanghai tournament has historically been one of his less productive Masters events.

This is a developing report…