Fourth seed ends free-swinging qualifier’s run in second round
© Julien Crosnier/FFTBack competing in the Chatrier cauldron for the first time since his defeat to Rafael Nadal in last year’s decider, Casper Ruud looks right at home.
Despite a lop-sided ledger on a cloudy final Sunday of Roland-Garros 2022, there were nothing but positive memories following a winning return to the biggest stage in the 16th arrondissement over qualifier Giulio Zeppieri.
On the heels of a straightforward opener on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Ruud climbed into the third round 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
Following a routine first round against fellow Scandinavian Elias Ymer, Ruud admitted a return to best-of-five sets on clay came as a welcome change after Jan-lennard Struff and Nicolas Jarry hit him off the court in Madrid and Geneva leading in.
On Thursday, his left-handed Italian opponent presented a somewhat different hurdle with his heavy lefty forehand and serve.
In just his second clash against a top-10 player, the Roman’s intention to do as Struff and Jarry had done before though was clear from the outset.
He came out swinging. While the 21-year-old was finding more pop on his forehand blows, it was Ruud’s more measured aggression, which paid dividends on the scoreboard.
©Julien Crosnier / FFTOne of nine qualifiers to pass the first round, Zeppieri survived his first five-setter against Alexander Bublik in the opening round and despite trailing Ruud by two sets after 85 minutes, he was not about to go quietly.
The world No.129 clocked his first ace to end a 16-minute game to open the third set and could not have converted on his first break point in eight attempts at a better time as he took the third set.
With the wind in the young Italian’s sails, Ruud needed to step up. Zeppieri had no sooner broken his opponent as he attempted to serve out the match than a right thigh complaint took hold.
Ruud made no mistake of it second time around and advanced after three hours and seven minutes.
He awaits the winner of Zhang Zhizhen and Thiago Agustin Tirante.
Ruud picked up his 13th clay-court win of the season, extending his lead for most on the surface on the men’s tour since 2020 with 82 victories.
The 24-year-old hit 34 winners – 29 off the forehand wing – 15 fewer than the Italian but was far more consistent, committing just 28 unforced errors to his opponent’s 51.
“It was a tough match. I started well, I got a break early and served well myself. That's the beauty of best-of-five sets. In a normal match I'd have won 6-3, 6-2 but here you have the chance to fight back. He did, he played much better in the third set and fourth set and it became very tough.
“In the end I served for the match, he played well and then it gets pretty physical out here so I'm very happy to come through and not having to play a fifth set.”
© Julien Crosnier/FFT
ROLAND-GARROS
20 May - 9 June 2024
