Casper Ruud put his tennis aside for a moment this week in Cincinnati, showing off his playful side with a lighthearted prank that caught several fellow ATP players completely by surprise.

The Norwegian arrives at the Cincinnati Open looking to bounce back after an early exit at the Canadian Open in Montreal, where he was eliminated in the third round by Brazilian rising star João Fonseca. It marked the second time this season that Fonseca defeated Ruud, having also knocked him out of the French Open.

Now ranked No. 15 in the world, Ruud hopes to regain momentum during the North American hard-court swing. He begins his Cincinnati campaign against Christopher O'Connell, with a potential third-round rematch against Fonseca if both players advance.

A strong performance over the coming weeks could significantly boost Ruud's ranking, as he has relatively few points to defend before the US Open. But before returning to competition, the Norwegian generated headlines for a very different reason.

A Clever QR Code Prank

The ATP shared a behind-the-scenes video showing Ruud placing official-looking QR codes throughout the players' VIP lounge in Montreal. The signs featured enticing messages such as "Scan for a smile" and "VIP gifts for players,"making them appear to be legitimate tournament promotions.

Curious players quickly pulled out their phones, expecting access to exclusive benefits or tournament information. Instead, scanning the codes opened a short video of Ruud smiling while humorously flashing his middle finger, revealing the prank.

Several top ATP stars fell for the joke, including Taylor Fritz, Arthur Fils, Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, Alex Michelsen, Zizou Bergs and Corentin Moutet. Their reactions ranged from surprise to laughter once they realized they had been tricked.

Taylor Fritz Admits He Fell for It

Taylor Fritz later responded on social media after the ATP published the video, joking about the experience.

"Probably the best prank I've had pulled on me here in a long time," Fritz wrote, adding that when the mysterious QR code appeared beside him, he asked his physiotherapist to scan it first—a detail that made the story even funnier.

The prank succeeded largely because QR codes have become a routine part of life on the professional tour. Players regularly use them for transportation, scheduling, hospitality services and tournament information, making Ruud's fake signs seem completely believable.

A Different Side of Casper Ruud

Known for his calm demeanor and professionalism on the court, Ruud rarely attracts attention for anything other than his tennis. That made the prank even more memorable, revealing a humorous side of the Norwegian that fans and fellow players don't often get to see.

Whether he can translate that positive energy into a deep run in Cincinnati remains to be seen. But before striking his first ball of the tournament, Ruud had already earned one victory—successfully catching some of the ATP Tour's biggest names completely off guard with a simple QR code and a perfectly timed joke.