Red-hot Ruud continues form in Roland Garros opener

Casper Ruud was nearly flawless Tuesday when he began his Roland Garros campaign with a convincing 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory against Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves.

A finalist the past two years in Paris, Ruud is aiming to go one step further this fortnight for his first major title. The seventh seed leads the ATP Tour with 36 wins this season with title runs coming in Barcelona, his first trophy above ATP 250 level, and last week in Geneva.

The 25-year-old continued his red-hot form under the Court Philippe-Chatrier roof in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with the qualifier Meligeni Alves. Ruud easily transitioned from defence to offence, often returning deep beyond the baseline and absorbing the Brazilian’s firepower before pouncing on his first opportunity to crack a forehand.

"I think it was a pretty steady level all around, from the beginning to the end," Ruud told Tennis Channel post match. "Obviously a bit nervous coming in, based on the two previous years here. Definitely a lot of points at stake and a lot of things I want to achieve here. A bit nervous but I'm very happy with today's win."

The Norwegian was crisp behind his own delivery, making 89 per cent of his first serves, according to Infosys Stats, and facing just one break point across the one-hour, 55-minute match. On the ad-side, the World No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings stood closer to the doubles alley and found success serving to Meligeni Alves’ backhand, which generated short returns that allowed Ruud to step into the court and hammer his groundstrokes.

Ruud, a 12-time tour-level titlist, will next meet Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who ousted qualifier Valentin Vacherot 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(2). The Spaniard beat Ruud at Roland Garros in a five-set, third-round match in 2021. Davidovich Fokina and Ruud are tied at 2-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry also advanced Tuesday with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory against home hope Arthur Cazaux. The 28th seed converted seven of his 21 break points. Etcheverry, who was a quarter-finalist in Paris last year, next faces another Frenchman: Arthur Rinderknech, who downed Australian Adam Walton 6-2, 6-4, 7-5.