The gang are back together when Team Norway returns to the United Cup in 2024.
Led by world No.11 Casper Ruud, the Norwegian squad heads to Sydney to play Group F matches against Croatia and Netherlands.
Ruud’s ranking, which remained inside the top 10 for most of this year, saw Norway secure its spot among the 18-team field at the prestigious mixed-team event in 2024.
TICKETS: Support Team Norway at the United Cup in Sydney
This was also the case at the inaugural United Cup in 2023, something his teammates appreciated.
“I'm also very grateful and excited to be here. Thanks to Casper for qualifying us. I'm really excited to play and looking forward,” said Malene Helgo.
Helgo is back in the 2024 squad as Norway’s No.1 WTA player, while teammates Ulrikke Eikeri and Andreja Petrovic are also returning for the second straight year.
The team is being captained again by former world No.39 Christian Ruud – also Casper’s father and coach – in another example of the team’s continuity.
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“Norway is a small tennis country, so we all know each other very well. It's going to be fun to play together,” Christian Ruud said ahead of Norway’s 2023 debut. “These are the players we see every day when we are home.”
The lesser-known Norwegian players clearly enjoy the bond they share with Casper, their illustrious leading player who has reached three Grand Slam finals and been ranked as high as world No.2.
While Ruud gets a chance to lead by example, he also recognises the value for Norwegian tennis in participating in global competitions such as the United Cup.
“For us to be here, it's a great experience for me to have teammates and also hopefully for the teammates to be here and see the best players in the world up close,” he explained last year.
“I think for the women, they have players like Iga (Swiatek) here that they can look up to. Belinda (Bencic) is here, as well. The girls from Norway, they don't typically see these type of players at all during the year, so to see them up close, I think it's a good experience and hopefully it's some motivation and inspiration to see them.”
It is perhaps no coincidence that Eikeri went on to enjoy her best ever season in doubles, peaking at world No.38 after winning WTA titles in Tokyo and Nottingham alongside Ingrid Neel.
With changes to the United Cup format in 2024, mixed doubles takes on a greater significance. And Norway benefits, with Eikeri a Grand Slam mixed doubles finalist at Roland Garros in 2022.
With Ruud favoured, by ranking, to win his singles matches against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (world No.23) and Croatia’s Borna Coric (world No.37), mixed doubles could be the ace up Norway’s sleeve in the streamlined best-of-three-match contests.
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After finishing at the bottom of their round-robin group in 2023, United Cup 2024 could mark a redemptive campaign for Team Norway.
