Norwegian rising star Casper Ruud admits that players who are playing Challengers are eager to reach the top-100 on the ATP list so they could get a direct entry into the ATP events. Seeing a top-100 player playing a Challenger tournament isn't a strange thing but the Challenger level events are mostly featured by the players ranked outside the top-100.

In most cases, the players ranked outside the top-100 don't make the cut for an ATP tournament. World No. 147 Ruud so far this year has been trying to earn some points at the Challenger level tournaments and to sneak into some ATP events through qualifying.

The 19-year-old reached round two at the Australian Open and French Open as a qualifier. Ruud, who received a main draw wildcard for this week's SkiStar Swedish Open in Bastad, concluded his campaign in the quarter-final.

The 19-year-old beat Spain's Jaume Munar in the first round and David Ferrer in the last-16 but couldn't beat French Richard Gasquet in the quarter-final. It was the first ATP quarter-final of the season for the Norwegian.

Ruud is expected to make only a slight rankings jump when the ATP list gets updated on Monday. The 19-year-old reached his career-high ranking of No. 108 in 2017 July. "Everyone playing Challengers want to make it into the top-100.

Everyone is fighting like crazy. In ATP, you can get easier matches against players who are not so pumped up but of course, in general, the level in ATP is tougher," Ruud said. Ruud is set to play in Hamburg next week as he has received a wildcard for the German Tennis Championships.

Also read: Adrian Mannarino defends French football team from negative comments