Casper Ruud overcame a late-match distraction from a neophyte opponent as the fourth seed defeated Giulio Zeppieri 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 for a third-round place at the French Open on Thursday.
The fourth-seeded Norwegian remained unflustered as his 129th-ranked opponent suddenly called for the trainer for a possible leg cramp just as he faced two break points in what turned out to be the penultimate game of the match.
The 2022 finalist here against Rafael Nadal waited out the interruption and then crowned his afternoon with victory on his first match point after more than three hours on court.
“It was a tough match, I started well and served well,” the winner said.
“But in five sets, he had the chance to fight back; he played well in the third and fourth sets.
“It was tough to try to finish the match, and it was two tough sets, but I’m happy to win one of them and be through for the third round
“It was very physical out there. I’m glad I won in four ses instead of going five. It gives me more time to rest before my next match.”
Eighth seed Jannik Sinner lost the longest match of this edition, going down in a thriller to Daniel Altmaier 6-7 (0), 7-6 (7), 1-6,7-6 (4), 7-5 after nearly five and a half hours of battle.
Sinner missed on two match points as he served for the win leading 5-4 in the fourth set, but was unable to close it out.
The match went into a deciding fifth, with a massive final game deciding the outcome.
Sinner went down an early break, got it back for 5-all but was then broken again.
The Italian saved four match points but was unable to convert on three break points; Altmaier drilled an ace on his fifth match point to close out the epic.
“I was playing every point with the best effort,” the winner – close to tears – said.
“The emotion was crazy, I love the clay and this crowd.”
With rumours of his possible retirement due to injury swirling around the grounds, Croat Borna Coric swept the final five games from 1-3 down in the fifth.
The 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Pedro Cachin took nearly four and a half hours.
The 12th-seeded Frances Tiafoe defeated qualifier Aslan Karatsev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2; Grigor Dimitrov eliminated Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4.
