How Casper Ruud is giving back
Aside from his golfing |A|
escapades and deep admiration |B|
for his favourite music |C|
artist, The Weeknd, the |D|
Norwegian places a lot |E|
on the importance of |F|
empowering children through sport |G|
and education. Ruud assumed the |H|
role of Global Ambassador |J|
for the W Initiative |K|
in 2022 and hopes |L|
to reach out to |M|
young people by hosting |O|
an annual tennis event. |P|
The most recent edition |Q|
took place on 15 |R|
September. W Initiative is a |S|
humanitarian foundation, which aims |U|
to improve the quality |V|
of life for children |Y|
and young people from |Z|
diverse backgrounds, achieved through |A|
the support of projects |B|
in Norway, as well |C|
as abroad in countries |D|
such as Uganda and |E|
Fiji. For a third consecutive |F|
year, the No. 9 |G|
in the PIF ATP |H|
Rankings took part in |J|
bringing tennis to a |K|
wider audience and interacted |L|
with the adults of |M|
tomorrow. It was a |O|
particularly warm occasion this |P|
time around as Ruud |Q|
returned to his native |R|
Oslo, where he was |S|
once a child with |U|
a dream. “Before coming here, |V|
I was aware of |Y|
the good sporting results |Z|
they have achieved,” Ruud |A|
explained at the recent |B|
event. “After today, I |C|
also see why. The |D|
work they do with |E|
children and young people |F|
is amazing to see.” The |G|
event was held at |H|
Furuset IF Tennis, which |J|
was granted a one |K|
million NOK ($95,000 USD) |L|
donation from W Initiative |M|
for its aligning principles |O|
of bettering the quality |P|
of life and increasing |Q|
the opportunities available for |R|
young people. Ruud wasn’t the |S|
only household name from |U|
Norwegian tennis to be |V|
present. His father and |Y|
coach, Christian Ruud, and |Z|
countryman Viktor Durasovic, who |A|
has shared a team |B|
with Ruud at the |C|
United Cup and ATP |D|
Cup, were also on |E|
hand to impart their |F|
wisdom. “It strikes me every |G|
time we do this, |H|
just how great the |J|
joy of sport can |K|
be,” chairman and founder |L|
of W Initiative Gustav |M|
M. Witzøe said. “For |O|
many of these children, |P|
this is their first |Q|
encounter with organised sport. “Us |R|
adults think about how |S|
important sport is for |U|
cohesion, inclusion and belonging. |V|
While the children are |Y|
just having a lot |Z|
of fun, not thinking |A|
at all, just doing.” Ruud, |B|
who reached a career-high |C|
of No. 2 in |D|
the PIF ATP Rankings |E|
in 2022, is back |F|
in action this week |G|
as the third seed |H|
at the Kinoshita Group |J|
Japan Open Tennis Championships |K|
in Tokyo. The 25-year-old |L|
is currently sixth in |M|
the PIF ATP Live |O|
Race To Turin and |P|
will face Australian Jordan |Q|
Thompson with the hope |R|
of boosting his chances |S|
of qualification.
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