Casper Ruud advanced to his third consecutive French Open quarter-final after overcoming Taylor Fritz in four sets, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, in a close three and a half hours play.
The Norwegian, a finalist in the competition in the last two editions, managed to pull out the first set in which he trailed 1-5 points in the tiebreak. The second part went to the account of the American after a single break, and the third set went by ebbs and flows. Both had their chances of success in it, with Ruud eventually making a decisive break in the tenth game after being broken in the previous one. This seemed to break the resistance of Fritz, who lost four straight games at 2-2 in the fourth set, and with it the whole match.
The American made more winners - 72 to 56, but also more unforced errors than his Scandinavian opponent - 45 to 30.
In contention for a place in another semi-final in the French capital, Ruud will face world No. 1 and reigning champion Novak Djokovic, who enters the match on the back of two consecutive five-set clashes. The match between Djokovic and Ruud will be a repeat of last year's final, in which the Serbian triumphed in three sets. | BGNES
