French Open: Zhang Zhizhen’s fairy-tale run over as Casper Ruud moves into last 16
- World No 4 prevails 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in third-round clash on Saturday, ending Zhang’s historic week in Paris
- Elena Rybakina withdraws from women’s competition because of illness, handing title boost to defending champ Iga Swiatek
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Zhang Zhizhen’s fairy-tale run at the French Open came to an end as Casper Ruud won 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in their third-round clash on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Zhang had enjoyed a historic week in Paris, becoming the first men’s singles player from China to make the last 32 at Roland Garros in the Open era.
World No 4 Ruud, the runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2022, dropped the first set before easing to a four-sets win against world number 71 Zhang.
The 26-year-old Zhang was bidding to become the first Chinese man since 1936 to reach the fourth round in Paris.
“It was very tough in the first set, he was hitting many winners and I couldn’t find a hole in his game,” said Ruud.
“At 5-4 in the second set, he played some sloppy shots and that gave me the set, maybe the match,” said Ruud who hit 36 winners and saved seven of 10 break points.
Ruud, playing in the third round for a fifth successive year, will face either Nicolas Jarry of Chile or Marcos Giron for a place in the quarterfinals.
Zhang had progressed after the withdrawal of Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in the first round and a straight-sets victory over Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante in the second round.
Zhang broke Ruud in the opening game and went on to take the set as the Norwegian player grew more frustrated.
Matters grew worse for Ruud as he found himself 0-40 down on his serve early in the second set but he collected his emotions and – after a topsy-turvy set – went on to level the match at his first opportunity.
Ruud then improved in the last two sets and sealed the match with a forehand down the line on the first of two match points.
On the women’s side, world No 4 Elena Rybakina withdrew on Saturday because of illness, handing an unexpected and significant title boost to defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Rybakina had been set to face Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain in the third round in the opening match on Court Philippe Chatrier.
“I was not feeling good yesterday and the day before. I didn’t sleep last night,” the 23-year-old Wimbledon champion said.
“I had fever and a headache and it’s difficult to breathe. I tried to play in the warm-up but I feel it’s the right decision to withdraw.”
Rybakina had swept into the last 32 without dropping a set and had been seeded to face two-time champion Swiatek in the semi-finals.
The Russian-born Kazakh was seen as a potential champion having arrived at Roland Garros with the prestigious Italian Open clay court title under her belt.
“I guess with my allergy that my immune system just went down and I picked up something,” Rybakina said. “The doctor said there’s a virus in Paris.”
Rybakina said she will focus on recovery ahead of defending her title at Wimbledon which gets under way on July 3.
Sorribes Tormo, ranked 132 in the world, will be playing in the second week of a grand slam for the first time. She will face either Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia or Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia for a place in the quarterfinals.
