Clearly hampered by a nasty left knee, two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud dropped 13 of the final 14 video games, misplaced 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 to Nuno Borges within the second spherical at Roland Garros on Wednesday after which revealed he had been taking part in in ache off-and-on all through the clay-court season.
The seventh-seeded Ruud reached at the least the semifinals every of the previous three years in Paris — ending because the runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Novak Djokovic in 2023 — and that is his earliest exit on the event since bowing out within the second spherical in his debut in 2018.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a one-set blip to defeat Fabian Marozsan 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, and Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante upset former world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded twentieth, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
Gigante, 23, picked up his first victory towards an opponent within the high 20, successful consecutive matches at a tour-level occasion for the primary time. The victory arrange a third-round assembly with American No. 13 seed Ben Shelton.
For the previous a number of weeks, Ruud has been taking pain-killing and anti inflammatory capsules, and he did so once more Wednesday. However Ruud stated the knee started bothering him within the first set towards Borges, who’s ranked forty first and have become the primary Portuguese man to get to the French Open’s third spherical. Borges will face Alexei Popyrin within the third spherical after the Australian participant eased previous Alejandro Tabilo in straight units.
Ruud stated the worst shot for his knee is an open-stance backhand, through which he slides on his left foot, so he has been avoiding it in follow.
“Sure actions on the market are form of what makes it painful. Sure photographs are painful to do,” stated Ruud, who additionally reached the ultimate on the 2023 US Open. “If you’re taking part in matches, you possibly can’t actually management it in the identical manner [as in practice]. You do the whole lot you possibly can to get to each ball. Generally you form of overlook that it is a shot I should not go for.”
Ruud was visited by a coach and took some capsules throughout Wednesday’s match, however nothing appeared to assist.
“It is a Slam. I really like this event,” Ruud stated. “Wanting again, I attempted my finest to proceed [and tried] to keep away from the photographs which are hurting. However in direction of the tip, there have been additionally different actions that began hurting, so it wasn’t ultimate.”
He stated the issues started in his first clay occasion of the pre-French Open stretch, at Monte Carlo in April, and that he had medical exams a few weeks later in Madrid, the place he gained the title. Ruud pulled out of the Geneva Open, which was performed final week.
Now he could have extra exams achieved.
“I took 5 days utterly off at residence. It wasn’t sufficient to make the ache go away,” Ruud stated. “I want I may keep right here longer.”
Alcaraz was toppled by Marozsan on the clay courts of Rome two years in the past and had moments of vulnerability on Court docket Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday, however the 22-year-old ensured there could be no early ending to his bid for a fifth Grand Slam title.
“It was a terrific match. I began taking part in effectively,” Alcaraz stated. “Within the first set, I had actually excessive confidence. Within the second set, he began to play significantly better and he was actually aggressive. He did not miss in any respect, so it was slightly tough to take care of his sport within the second set, however I am actually completely satisfied I stayed robust and refreshed myself.”
Alcaraz additionally bought to do one thing he at all times needed: sing to the followers at Roland Garros, utilizing a familiar-sounding chorus usually belted out by crowds.
Maybe fittingly, it’s to the tune of a Spanish paso doble. It goes “Po-po-po-po-po-po po-lolo” — because the French write it — and is adopted by a pause after which an “Olé.”
Alcaraz later stated he had been serious about doing that tune after an interview final 12 months, however it by no means occurred.
“I simply adore it right here and had some actually nice moments,” Alcaraz stated. “I hope folks once they left the court docket, they left with a smile.”
Alcaraz will subsequent face Damir Dzumhur, who shrugged off a nasty fall to outlast big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (4), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
For Tsitsipas, the loss was a serious stumble at a event the place he had reached at the least the quarterfinals 4 instances since 2020. It is also one other early loss at a serious this 12 months, after falling within the first spherical to Alex Michelsen on the Australian Open.
“I anticipated greater issues from myself these two weeks,” stated Tsitsipas, who additionally misplaced within the second spherical in 2018. “I appeared to be taking part in immature generally throughout the match.”
The 26-year-old Greek participant berated himself for gifting Gigante some factors, as Tsitsipas hit 49 unforced errors on Court docket Simonne-Mathieu.
“I wasn’t totally current within the second,” he stated. “So I might describe that [as] immaturity, not realizing easy methods to deal with these conditions.”
Gigante sealed the victory with an ace, and the unheralded Italian acquired a pleasant hug on the internet from Tsitsipas.
“I’ve to present credit score to my opponent, he performed unimaginable tennis,” Tsitsipas stated. “He dealt with the strain moments very effectively.”
Lorenzo Musetti continued his renaissance when he eased into the third spherical with a no-nonsense 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 victory towards Colombian fortunate loser Daniel Galan on Wednesday.
The eighth-seeded Musetti’s foremost hassle was intermittent rain on Court docket Simonne-Mathieu as he arrange a gathering with Mariano Navone, who defeated American Reilly Opelka 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-3.
“It was a strong efficiency from the start till the tip,” Musetti stated. “I had some ups and downs throughout the first and the third set. Positively I can not complain in regards to the degree that I am displaying.”
Musetti, who reached the ultimate on the Monte Carlo Masters and the semifinals in Madrid and Rome within the three large clay-court tournaments earlier than Roland Garros, stated issues began clicking into place in Monte Carlo Masters, calling it a “increase of confidence.”
Tommy Paul fought again from two units all the way down to beat Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in 3 hours, 38 minutes, and guide his place within the third spherical. The American No. 12 seed faces Karen Khachanov subsequent.
No. 10 Holger Rune of Denmark beat unseeded American Emilio Nava 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this report.