World No. 7 Casper Ruud and his girlfriend recently attended a reception with the Norwegian royal family. The dinner took place at the Royal Palace in Oslo. The Norwegian tennis player had previously received invitations to visit the royal family, but due to his busy schedule, he had to decline these important visits. This time, after his first-round loss at the Rome Masters in Italy to Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (6-0, 4-6, 4-6), he has some free time.
Ruud, 25, has won 11 ATP titles, reached the final of three Grand Slam tournaments (French Open 2022 and 2023, US Open 2022) and played in the ATP Finals in Turin in 2022. Ruud's best ATP ranking is second, which he achieved in 2022. "It was a truly special and humbling experience to be invited to the Royal Palace and dine with the Norwegian Royal Family," Ruud said. "As a proud Norwegian, it is an honour to be recognised by the monarchy for my achievements in tennis."
Ruud was accompanied by his longtime girlfriend, Ingrid Neel, who also had the opportunity to meet the royals. “Ingrid and I were both a little nervous, but the royals made us feel so welcome and comfortable,” Ruud said. “We had a wonderful evening of conversation and camaraderie.”
The invitation to the palace is a testament to Ruud’s growing status not only in the tennis world, but also as a national figure in Norway. His success on the ATP Tour has captured the imagination of the Norwegian public, and this royal reception only reinforces his position as a role model and ambassador for the sport in his home country.
“Growing up, I could never have imagined that I would be invited to the palace and break bread with the royal family,” Ruud admitted. “It’s a humbling experience, and it motivates me even more to continue representing Norway with pride on the world tennis stage.”
With further Grand Slam glory on his radar, Ruud will no doubt be eager to make the most of the confidence and inspiration he can draw from this unique royal encounter. As he prepares for the upcoming clay court season, including a chance to win the French Open title, Ruud will take with him the best wishes and support of the Norwegian monarchy.
