Casper Ruud survived a brutal five-set rollercoaster against Roman Safiullin at Roland Garros, edging through 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2 after a match that swung wildly between dominance, collapse, and recovery. The Norwegian looked firmly in control with a two-set lead and five match points, before physical issues and a sudden momentum shift nearly ended his campaign in Paris.
French Open: Highlights
The victory came amid punishing conditions at Roland Garros, where soaring temperatures and heavy clay have already produced multiple matches defined as much by endurance as by shot-making.
Ruud admitted just how close he came to defeat after losing control of the match in the middle stages.
“Honestly, a bit of everything. Tired, but of course happy. I feel humble. I want to thank the crowd for pushing me,” Ruud said after the match. “I was close to being on the way home, honestly. In the end of the 3rd and 4th set I felt quite horrible and dizzy. It was really hard to see the ball.”
He expanded on the physical breakdown that nearly forced him out of the match. “I think my body temperature was too high, I was not able to cool it down with the temperature here today. Luckily I was able to just give myself some time to breathe in the 4th set to see if I could calm down and let the cramps and high temperature ease off. Luckily I was able to. It was a really tough match,” he added.
Ruud had been cruising at 6-2, 7-6, 5-2 with five match points in hand, but Safiullin produced a remarkable escape, saving all of them and flipping the momentum completely. The Russian took the third set 7-5 and then surged through a one-sided fourth set 6-0 as Ruud struggled visibly with cramps, dizziness, and heat stress, even requiring medical attention during the set. At that point, Ruud lost 11 of 12 games before managing to regroup for the decider, where he steadied himself early and reasserted control to close out the match.
SHELTON, ANISIMOVA ADVANCE; WAWRINKA WAVES GOODBYE
Elsewhere in the draw, Amanda Anisimova made a strong return to Grand Slam action with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 win over Daria Rakotomanga, easing back into competition after a wrist injury that sidelined her entire clay swing.
Ben Shelton also advanced comfortably, defeating Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to continue a solid Slam record despite mixed recent form on clay.
Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka bowed out in emotional fashion after a first-round defeat to Jesper de Jong, bringing the curtain down on his final Roland Garros appearance as the 41-year-old Swiss great received a warm farewell from the Paris crowd.
– Ends
