Casper Ruud begins French Open campaign with strong win

Norway’s Casper Ruud started his quest for a maiden French Open title with a commanding victory against Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves on Tuesday.

Ruud, who has been the runner-up at Roland Garros for the past two years, easily secured a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win in his first-round match.

Ruud entered the tournament with confidence, having recently won clay-court titles in Barcelona and Geneva. His performance against Meligeni Alves showcased his readiness to compete at the highest level.

“It’s great to be back here at Roland Garros,” Ruud said after his win. “Hopefully I can make it another good year here.”

In the next round, Ruud will face either Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain or Monegasque qualifier Valentin Vacherot.

His journey in the tournament will be closely watched, as he aims to finally clinch the French Open title after near misses in previous years.

Ruud has faced tough challenges in the finals at Roland Garros. Last year, he was defeated in straight sets by Novak Djokovic, and in 2022, he lost to Rafael Nadal in a similarly one-sided final.

Additionally, he was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 US Open final.

As the tournament progresses, Ruud’s experience and recent form on clay courts will be crucial. His fans and the tennis community are eager to see if he can overcome past disappointments and secure his first Grand Slam title.