The Australian Open is not Wimbledon for Casper Ruud, but it is still very far from Roland-Garros in the list of his favorite tournaments: the Norwegian, eighth finalist only once in Melbourne (in 2021) , once again had to work hard to get out of the clutches of Jaume Munar, whom he ended up bringing to his senses by winning 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in 3h21, this Sunday on the Rod Laver Arena.
Faced with the Spaniard who is often a little too tender in Grand Slams – he has never reached the third round of a major tournament – but he seems determined to strengthen his game, Ruud has often been put on the ropes, himself a victim of his own inconstancy. The double Roland-Garros finalist, author of a good start to the season with two successes in the United Cup against Tomas Machac and Hubert Hurkacz, even came off the court a little strangely during the second and fourth sets, easily conceded.
But, as a champion, he was able to tighten all the bolts of his game from the start of the fifth set, in which he broke from the start before flying away for a rather reassuring victory in the end. He could find the young Czech hope Jakub Mensik – if he wins against the qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili – for an attractive second round.
