French Open 2022, 3rd Round, Saturday, 28.05.2022
He is one of the very big favourites for the title at the French Open 2022, wants to defeat the trio around Djokovic, Alcaraz and Nadal. Casper Ruud wants to ignite the turbo for the first time at a Grand Slam!
Exactly such a success is still missing for the strong Norwegian, in the last years his nerves failed again and again. On Saturday, he wants to take the next step in Paris and enter the round of 16.
Read in my Ruud Sonego tip, why I expect exactly such a success.
A Round of 16 finish at the 2021 US Open is Casper Ruud’s best result at a Big 4 tournament to date. For someone who is ranked seventh in the world, not really a strong record.
In Paris he was knocked out in the 3rd round three times in a row, will that make him nervous before his match on Saturday? After all, the 23-year-old has already managed to improve his performance once in the French capital.
In his opening 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the latter’s last match, he had to fight for hours before he came to a lucky victory. In round 2, he did a better job and took it easy.
He defeated Emil Ruusuvuori 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, knowing full well that the Finn was not playing at his level. He didn’t allow a single break, but only converted four of the 15 opportunities himself.
In Geneva, a few days before the start of the French Open, he had snatched the title, but had to push his limits and “only” came to a very close 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 in the final against Joao Sousa.
The Portuguese could also figure in my current analysis, because: Casper Ruud will play Lorenzo Sonego on Saturday – and it was exactly him who recently had to deal with Sousa. The Italian has shown his best side at the French Open so far.
He quickly knocked Peter Gojowczyk out of the tournament with a clear 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, followed by the aforementioned Sousa. 7-6, 6-3, 6-4, the result was a bit clearer than what Ruud could get a few days ago.
Over 90% of Sonego’s first serve was successful, he should by no means be an easy opponent for Ruud. The 27-year-old would like to repeat the last 16 of 2020, where he lost without a chance to Diego Schwartzman.
Sonego is not playing his strongest year in 2022, but since the beginning of February he has managed to win two matches in a tournament for the first time. It is unlikely that a third will be added, at least according to the direct comparison.
My Ruud Sonego Tip
The fact that Ruud made things a bit exciting for the first time in the last comparison with Sanego now also sets the tone for my French Open tip today.
I can’t imagine that the Norwegian will be defeated for the first time in the fourth direct encounter:
But against his opponent, who has played passably in Paris so far, the favourite will at least have a lot of work to do before he finally books a place in the last 16.
Accordingly, my Ruud Sonego tip is: Win Ruud & Over 27,5 Games!
