Last year’s finalist Casper Ruud can continue to dream of the first Grand Slam title of his career at the French Open. The 24-year-old Norwegian beat the Chinese Zhizhen Zhang 4: 6, 6: 4, 6: 1, 6: 4 and confidently followed the top favorites Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic into the round of 16 in Paris.
The ambitious young Dane Holger Rune (20) also survived the third round a little later without any problems. At 6: 4, 6: 1, 6: 3 he gave the Argentinian Genaro Alberto Olivieri no chance on the Philippe Chatrier court.
Fourth in the world rankings Ruud survived the third round in Roland Garros for the second time in his career. After his final defeat against record champion Rafael Nadal last year, he is one of the extended favorites this time – but has played a mixed clay court season so far.
Meanwhile, his opponent Zhang failed to become the first Chinese in the Open Era (since 1968) to advance to the round of 16 of the clay court Grand Slam. He managed to do this at the Masters in Madrid when he knocked out top ten player Fritz on the way to the round of the top 16.
The latter also flew out of the tournament early on Saturday in Paris – making him the fifth top ten player to miss the round of 16. The American lost to Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo 6: 3, 3: 6, 4: 6, 5: 7. Cerundolo had already eliminated the German Yannick Hanfmann in the second round.
On Friday, the two top favorites for the title in Paris easily made it into the round of 16. Grand Slam record winner Djokovic will meet the unseeded Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas there on Sunday – the world number one Alcaraz will face Lorenzo Musetti (Italy / No. 17). Alcaraz’ possible fourth