Ruud revs up after slow start in Paris

Casper Ruud needed a set to get started as the fourth seed advanced at the French Open on Saturday with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 comeback over China’s Zhang Zhizhen.

The Norwegian who is defending a final here from 2022 against Rafael Nadal was unable to get his game untracked until midway through the second set in a win which took more than two and a half hours.

He claimed victory with a winner as he wrong-footed the first Chinese man to reach the third round here since 1937. 

Ruud improved to 14-5 on clay this season.

“I didn’t start as well as I had hoped,” Ruud said. “But at 5-4 in the second set he made a couple of sloppy shots and I got a (service) break.

“That gave me confidence and I played better in the third and fourth sets; the crowd helped me a lot today.”

The contest was evenly poised with both men firing six aces and 39 winners.

“Every match is stressful, physically and mentally,” Ruud said. “I always feel a little extra pressure.”

Ruud will be playing a Grand Slam fourth round for the fourth time after 18 career starts.

Main photo:- Casper Ruud wins third round match by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd