Casper Ruud bounces back from early challenges to dominate his opponent at the French Open. Explore the highlights of his remarkable match and prospects.
Introduction: From “Zombie” to Title Contender on Court Suzanne-Lenglen
Just forty-eight hours before stepping out for his second-round match, Casper Ruud looked like a player running on empty. The Norwegian seventh seed had barely escaped a grueling, four-hour, five-set opening ordeal against Roman Safiullin, a match where he wasted five match points in the third set and later described himself as “walking around like a zombie.” See also:Â Alexander Zverev Crushes Tomas Machac to Reach Round 3
However, when Ruud arrived on Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, his zombie days were officially over. Putting on a masterclass of efficient clay-court tennis, the 27-year-old completely dominated Serbia’s dangerous young talent, Hamad Medjedovic. Ruud secured a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory in just over two hours, proving that he has fully recovered his energy and remains a serious threat to lift the trophy in Paris.
First Set Analysis: Ruud Reclaims His Precision on Clay
The opening set showed a massive contrast to Casper’s sluggish start earlier in the week. Moving with his trademark fluidity on the terre battue, the two-time Roland Garros finalist established control from the very first game. Medjedovic, currently ranked world number 58, possesses huge baseline weapons and an explosive game, but he quickly found out that hitting through Casper on a warm Paris afternoon is an incredibly difficult task.
Casper was clinical on his own serve, using his heavy topspin forehand to dictate the positioning of the rallies. He applied consistent pressure on the 22-year-old Serbian’s service games, managing to secure a crucial breakthrough. While Medjedovic tried to rely on his powerful first serve, Ruud’s elite defensive skills forced the youngster into making costly mistakes. Ruud safely tucked away the first set 6-3, immediately instilling a sense of calm in his box.
Second Set Breakdown: Navigating Underarm Serves and Tactical Tricks
The second set saw Medjedovic grow increasingly frustrated as Casper continued to track down his biggest groundstrokes. In an attempt to break the Norwegian’s rhythm and catch him off guard, the young Serbian decided to try an unconventional underarm serve. However, the tactical gamble backfired completely. Medjedovic completely missed an easy follow-up forehand right after the underarm delivery, losing the point and handing Ruud a critical break of serve.
Casper remained completely unfazed by his opponent’s antics, focusing entirely on execution. The Norwegian was particularly impressive when facing danger, saving every single break point he faced throughout the entire contest. With a stellar success rate on his second-serve points, Ruud gave Medjedovic absolutely no room to breathe. He cruised through the remainder of the set, breaking the Serbian once more to secure a 6-2 win and take a commanding two-set lead.
Third Set Review: Facing Moonballs and a Spirited Mexican Wave
Refusing to give up without a fight, Medjedovic tried yet another unique tactic in the third set. He began throwing high, looping moonballs deep into the sky to alter the tempo of the baseline exchanges. On one memorable occasion, the Serbian followed a high moonball with a sizzling forehand winner that brought the crowd to their feet, but these sporadic moments of brilliance were not enough to disrupt Ruud’s steady discipline.
As the set progressed to its conclusion with Casper leading 5-4, the enthusiastic crowd inside Court Suzanne-Lenglen erupted into a massive Mexican wave. The fans were thoroughly enjoying the afternoon sun and clearly wanted to see more tennis, but Ruud had other plans. Serving for a spot in the next round, the world number seven showed absolute composure. He closed out the final set 6-4, finishing the match with an incredible stat sheet that featured zero dropped service games and a flawless display of tactical resilience.
Conclusion: A Clean Slate and a Massive Third-Round Clash Ahead
With this 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 triumph, Casper Ruud improved his historic lifetime record at the French Open to an impressive 26-8. In his on-court interview after the victory, a smiling Ruud acknowledged how close he had been to an early exit in the first round, noting that surviving such a close scare makes him feel like he has nothing left to lose in the rest of the tournament.
Now that his physical energy is completely restored, the Norwegian looks ready to duplicate the deep runs that saw him reach the final in 2022 and 2023. Next up for Ruud is a highly anticipated, blockbuster third-round matchup against popular American star Tommy Paul, who cruised through his own second-round match in straight sets against Lorenzo Sonego.
