Ruud Rediscovers Form at Roland-Garros as Norwegian Books Third-Round Spot in Paris
Anotida
Casper Ruud produced an inspired and composed performance to defeat Hamad Medjedovic and secure his place in the third round of Roland-Garros 2026.
The Norwegian star, a two-time Roland-Garros finalist, bounced back strongly from a physically demanding first-round battle to claim a convincing 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Serbian world No. 58 on Wednesday.
Ruud had looked close to elimination in his opening-round encounter against Roman Safiullin, where he failed to convert five match points before eventually surviving in five sets after more than four hours on court.
Following that exhausting contest, Ruud admitted he had been “really tired and walking around like a zombie,” but there were no signs of fatigue in his second-round display.
The 27-year-old looked sharp from the start, controlling rallies from the baseline and producing one of his cleanest performances of the tournament so far.
Speaking after the match, Ruud acknowledged how close he had been to exiting the tournament early.
“I was close to going home already, but I’m still here.”
He also revealed that the recovery time between matches helped him regain energy and confidence.
“I had time to recover after a couple of days ago. I felt good on the court, and I feel after the first round I have nothing to lose.”
Ruud’s dominance was reflected in the statistics as he saved all seven break points he faced while converting four breaks of serve against Medjedovic.
The Serbian attempted to disrupt Ruud’s rhythm with unusual tactics, including an underarm serve and a series of moonballs during the third set, but the Norwegian remained calm and focused throughout the contest.
Having reached two finals and one semi-final in Paris between 2022 and 2024, Ruud once again demonstrated his comfort on clay courts. The victory improved his career record at Roland-Garros to 26 wins and 8 defeats.
Ruud will now face Tommy Paul in the third round as he continues his quest for a maiden Grand Slam title in Paris.
The Norwegian also expressed his affection for the tournament and hope of extending his stay in the French capital.
“This tournament has given me a lot of joy, as a fan when I was younger and as a player in the last eight or nine years. I really enjoy my time here and hope I can extend my stay for a few more days – maybe a week or so.”
