“He just told me he hates you”: Casper Ruud and Matteo Berrettini share a laugh ahead of the Australian Open

Casper Ruud and Matteo Berrettini had a lighthearted moment before the Australian Open when the Italian joked that Holger Rune "hates" him. As part of the pre-tournament activities, several ATP stars gathered at the Red Bull Bassline event.

At the event, players faced off in tie-breaks while a DJ played music in the background. Among those competing were Holger Rune and Ruud, who spent time together during the off-season. They partnered up in the Nordic Battle, two exhibition matches held in Denmark and Norway, both won by Rune.

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Rune and Ruud also trained together in Melbourne this week to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year. During the Red Bull Bassline event, Rune faced Fabian Marozsan while Ruud warmed up on a stationary bike near the court.

Ruud was set to face Rune in a tie-break when Berrettini, holding a microphone, approached him. “So, looks like you’re playing Holger,” the Italian said.

“My best friend. Yeah, we are best friends now,” replied the three-time Grand Slam finalist. “We played together in Denmark, in Norway, and we practised this week, so it should be fun.”

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Berrettini then quipped, “He just told me he hates you,” jokingly.

Ruud took the comment in good humour. “I hope not! But it should be a really good one.” Berrettini quickly revealed the truth: “Okay, okay. He didn’t say that. I was testing your kindness,” he said with a smile.

Years ago, Ruud and Rune had a tense moment during the 2022 French Open, where Ruud reached the final (losing to Rafael Nadal). The two played in the quarterfinals, and Rune accused Ruud of shouting “Jaa!” in the locker room after the match. However, their rivalry has since evolved into a friendly relationship.

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