Casper Rood didn’t hold back after his loss to Rafael Corignon on Wednesday.
Talking to reporters inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 12th seed at the US Open expressed that he feels as if he’s playing at a virtually nonexistent level right now, especially after yet another Grand Slam setback.
This season has not been kind to the Norwegian player, who has struggled significantly, managing to win just three matches across the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open combined.
A lingering left knee injury had already forced him to miss Wimbledon this summer, compounding his struggles.
“It’s a mix of what I’m doing right and how poorly the last match went—it wasn’t great,” Rood reflected. “I haven’t won many matches this season. After being out for a bit, I returned to find that my results weren’t improving.”
Rood did manage to rally back after losing the first set in his second-round match, even taking a 2-1 lead at one point. However, he ultimately dropped the last two sets, finishing the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7.
“Honestly, I’m not feeling very confident right now,” he admitted. “Would I try harder if I could? Absolutely, I’m motivated. But confidence? Not so much at this moment.”
Before facing Corignon in the men’s singles, Rood had progressed to the finals of the mixed doubles tournament the previous week, where he won his opening match against Sebastian Outner.
Yet, despite that initial victory, Rood remarked that it felt more like his opponents were making mistakes than that he played exceptionally well.
“It wasn’t a match where I came out and dominated or showcased incredible plays,” he noted.
When asked if putting in extra practice time could help boost his confidence, he mentioned that he got back on the practice court shortly after his loss in Cincinnati. He emphasized the importance of being “honest with himself.”
“The reality is, I make too many mistakes at crucial moments, especially with my forehand,” Rood said. “I’ll head home to work on it, and for now, all I can do is wait for my next match.”
