French Open 2023 results: Casper Ruud through to third round
Fourth seed Casper Ruud moved into the French Open third round with a four-set victory over Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri.
The Norwegian, 24, was in control early on and after being forced into a fourth set, he rallied to secure a 6-3 6-2 4-6 7-5 win.
Ruud is chasing a first Grand Slam title after losing in the finals at the US Open and Roland Garros last year.
He will face Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante or Zhang Zhizhen of China in the next round.
After breaking early in the first two sets, Ruud struggled for rhythm in the third and a fired-up Zeppieri won it with his first break of the match.
Ruud got the break in the fourth and, serving for the match for the second time, sealed the win in three hours and four minutes.
German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev, a semi-finalist for the past two years, is in action later on Thursday when he takes on Slovakia’s Alex Molcan in the night match on Court Philippe Chatrier – the same venue where he made such a painful exit last year when an ankle injury forced him to retire from his semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, the ninth and 12th seeds respectively, also have second-round matches on Thursday.