Among the favorites at what is perceived to be an up-for-grabs title at the French Open, Casper Ruud almost bowed out in the second round on Thursday night. Instead, the seventh-ranked Norwegian managed to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 after four hours and eight minutes.
On the heels of a back-and-forth first four sets, Ruud regained momentum with a break at 2-2 in the decider. The two-time Roland Garros runner-up had a chance to earn a second break at 4-2 but could not convert, keeping Davidovich Fokina within striking distance. Returning at 3-4, the 32nd-ranked Spaniard got a look at two break points only to see them go by the wayside.
That proved to be Davidovich Fokina’s last hope, as he promptly dropped serve at love to end the match.
Ruud is joined in the third round by Holger Rune, who survived an incredible contest against Flavio Cobolli. The 22-year-old Dane squandered a two-set lead, but it was his turn to mount a comeback in the fifth. Trailing 5-0 in the super-tiebreaker, Rune roared back with 10 of the last 12 points to prevail 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(10-7) in three hours and 50 minutes.
“I just switched my brain off a little bit and just tried to go for my shots,” the world No. 13 explained. “Then I got great contact on one return at 5-0–gained some confidence. And then actually, all of a sudden it came into my mind a match when Roger (Federer) played Tennys Sandgren at the (2020) Australian Open when he won in five-set match tiebreak, as well, and Sandgren had many chances. It was kind of in my mind. I don’t know how it appeared; it just did.
“Roger is always very relaxed when he’s playing. I told myself, ‘okay, let’s try to relax.’ Then I started to hit my shots better, more freedom, got back on track. [Cobolli] hit a crazy passing shot down the line on a crucial moment. (I’m) just happy that I kept fighting.”
For what it’s worth, Rune confused Federer’s five-set win over Sandgren (which didn’t go to tiebreaker) with the Swiss’ victory in the same event over John Millman (in which Federer trailed 8-4 in the ‘breaker before winning the last six points of the match). Whatever the case, the thinking worked!
There were a total of six five-setters on what was a busy day in Paris following a whole host of rain delays earlier in the week. Also advancing in five were Tomas Machac, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Sebastian Ofner, and Josef Kovalik.
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Rune match was insane
Indeed.. Great comeback by Rune in the super tiebreaker