French Open stars forced to move courts after worrying Casper Ruud incident | Tennis | Sport
French Open organisers have moved the last match scheduled on Court Simonne-Mathieu after Casper Ruud’s first-round clash with Roman Safiullin went the distance. The No. 15 seed looked to be cruising to victory when he led by two sets and 5-2 in the third. He had five match points across two games, but suddenly fell apart, and the Russian qualifier took the third set 7-5.
By set four, Ruud could barely move, and called the doctor to the court in worrying scenes. He was bagelled, failing to win a single game, and the match went the distance. As Ruud and Safiullin went into a fifth and final set, the tournament announced that a match between Karolina Muchova and Anastasia Zakharova – initially scheduled last on Court Simonne-Mathieu – would be moving to Court Suzanne-Lenglen, the second-biggest stage in the grounds.
“The match on Court Simonne-Mathieu, A.Zakharova vs K.Muchova, has been moved to Court Suzanne-Lenglen,” organisers said in a statement at 8.25pm local time.
Muchova and Zakharova then walked out onto the court just before 8.40pm. No. 10 seed Muchova started her clay season on a high when she finished runner-up in Stuttgart, beating Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina en route. But she pulled out of the Madrid Open to rest after her run in Germany, and then lost her opening match at the Italian Open.
There were more concerning scenes over on Court Simonne-Mathieu late in the fourth set. Ruud continued battling with the hot conditions, cramping and shaking his head. Meanwhile, Safiullin also seemed to be struggling.
The world No. 141 called the physio while leading 5-0 and had a medical timeout, lying on the court and getting treatment for what appeared to be a thigh or hip issue. After he won the set, both men left the court for a bathroom break.
Neither of them looked very fresh when they returned to start the decider. But Ruud was able to end a run of 11 straight games against him, and held from 0-30 down to get on the board.
As the fifth set went on, the 15th seed looked better and better, while the qualifier faded away. Ruud couldn’t convert a couple of break points on Safiullin’s serve at 1-0, but he quickly wore him down and got the break, racing into a 4-1 lead.
The 27-year-old went on to claim a 6-2 7-6(5) 5-6 0-6 6-2 victory, and had a pep in his step again as he ran to the net to shake hands with Safiullin. Ruud was relieved, raising both arms into the air and tilting his head back.
