PARIS: Norway’s Casper Ruud’s only consolation after missing out on an Olympic tennis medal was that it gave him time to go to Le Golf National and pursue his other passion.

Ruud, a two-time French Open runner-up, was expected to be on the podium in Paris but suffered a surprise three-set defeat to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals.

But the next morning, he was watching his roommate Viktor Hovland bat in the Olympic Village.

“I thought I would spend the day doing what I usually like to do, which is play golf or watch golf,” the world number nine told reporters on the panoramic pitch near Versailles.

“I envy professional golfers, all the beautiful courses they play on. Some nights I think, ‘Oh, if I could trade one day, I’d be happy to do it.'”

Ruud, who is not only one of the world’s best tennis players but also a golfer from scratch, also has Ryder Cup player Hovland as a guide.

“I try not to ask him too many questions,” Ruud said. “I know that as an athlete you appreciate your free time, so I have to control myself not to ask too many questions.”

While Ruud is still focused on winning a Grand Slam title, he says a future golf career is not out of the question.

“Any day I have off I try to go out and play golf,” said Ruud, 25. “Some days I even have (tennis) practice very early in the afternoon so I can play 18 holes.

“I’m pretty serious about it. I write down almost every round I play throughout the year because I want to find my scoring average. No ‘gimmi’, I play everything.

“I don’t think it’s likely to happen, but it’s a realistic dream for me (to become a professional golfer). At least I know I’ll have plenty of years left after my tennis career and a chance to play all the courses I want to play.”