Casper Ruud withdraws from US Open with back injury

NEW YORK -- Casper Ruud, the 2022 US Open runner-up, withdrew from the tournament Sunday because of a back injury.

Ruud was forced to stop playing in his first match in the recent Cincinnati Open. He played in the mixed doubles tournament in Flushing Meadows but was seen in videos struggling to serve in practice.

Ruud, who is ranked No. 20, was replaced in the draw by Arthur Gea, who lost in the final round of qualifying. He will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the first round.

Ruud lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 US Open final. He also reached the French Open final that year, losing to Rafael Nadal in his first attempt to become the first Norwegian man to win a Grand Slam title.