1st June 2023 – (Paris) Casper Ruud, last year’s runner-up, put on an impressive display at the French Open to defeat Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and advance to the third round. The fourth seed showed his steel, quelling Zeppieri 6-3 6-2 4-6 7-5 in a match that demonstrated his skill and flair on clay.
Ruud, dressed in classy blue pinstriped shorts, dominated the match from the outset, forcing Zeppieri into a corner with his aggressive baseline play. The Norwegian’s performance on clay has been inconsistent this year, but he made quick work of the first set after being gifted the decisive break when Zeppieri hit a forehand long.
In the second set, Ruud continued to dominate, while Zeppieri struggled with errors in a nervy display. However, the Italian qualifier regained his composure and managed to peg Ruud back in the third set.
Ruud’s superb court coverage and aggressive play helped him break for a 3-2 lead in the fourth set, but Zeppieri fought back to level at 5-5 with a fiery inside-out winner. However, he immediately surrendered serve, allowing Ruud to close out the victory.
The win sees Ruud advance to the third round of the French Open, where he will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Norwegian’s skill and talent on clay make him a strong contender for the tournament, and his performance against Zeppieri demonstrated his ability to dominate opponents with his aggressive play.