Casper Ruud continues surge, proves player for all surfaces in Indian Wells

WATCH: Ruud began his Indian Wells campaign with a straightforward opener against Roberto Carballés Baena.

Casper Ruud has captured five titles this season, which also gives him another, slightly different type of title—the player with the most tournaments won on the ATP Tour so far this season.

Ruud just lifted the trophy in San Diego, adding it to his wins at Geneva, Båstad, Gstaad, and Kitzbühel.

And while the 22-year-old from Norway acknowledges others have won bigger events, he's happy to settle for a high total at this point in his career. He started the season with one career title.

"It feels obviously nice and a good feeling," Ruud told press at Indian Wells, where he is competing this week. The tournaments I won maybe can't compare to what maybe Novak won…three slams this year and I think he has four in total. Medvedev, those guys, they have some bigger titles to their name, but I think this year has been about winning a lot of matches for me and trying to—you know, I set a goal going into the season that I wanted to try to win another tournament."

He's since got a few more than that, at one point reeling off three straight clay-court tournament wins between Båstad and Kitzbühel.

I'm not sure if it was the most important thing of my career, but I think it was nice to show myself that I can win the title on hard court. I will at least try to get my first grass court title once in my career. Casper Ruud

"I was able to do so in Geneva, and then those three in a row kind of just happened," Ruud said. "An unbelievable spring, summer, and also fall.

"So, I enjoy it and feeling happy about what I have done this year but also hungry for more."

He's also pleased to have got his first hardcourt title at San Diego, eager to avoid a reputation as only a clay-courter.

"I'm not sure if it was the most important thing of my career, but I think it was nice to show myself that I can win the title on hard court," he said. "I will at least try to get my first grass court title once in my career."

But this week, the No.10 is still concentrating on his hardcourt game at Indian Wells, where he won his opener in straightforward fashion and will next play No. 26 seed Lloyd Harris. Harris prevented a Roland Garros rematch between Ruud and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, defeating the Spaniard in straight sets.

Ruud is also in the No.8 spot to qualify for the ATP Finals.