Casper Ruud Battles Extreme Heat to Advance at French Open Casper Ruud, the two-time French Open finalist, overcame sweltering temperatures and a grueling five-set match to reach the second round of the 2026 French Open. The Norwegian player described the conditions as debilitating, likening his experience to feeling like a “zombie” during the fourth set as temperatures soared to 91 degrees Fahrenheit. His victory over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin came after a dramatic and physically taxing match that tested both his endurance and mental resolve. The match, which lasted three hours and 56 minutes, saw Ruud take an early lead, winning the first two sets and holding a 5-2 advantage in the third. However, he failed to convert five match points and eventually lost the third set 7-5. During the fourth set, Ruud struggled visibly, walking gingerly back to his chair and requiring medical attention. He was seen pouring water over his head, wrapping his neck with an ice-filled towel, and applying ice to his face to combat the heat. Temperatures during the match reached 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), according to France’s national weather agency, Météo-France. Ruud admitted the conditions were akin to heatstroke, recalling a similar experience from a previous tournament in Washington, D.C., where he had to retire in the third set. “I felt dizzy and walked around like a zombie almost,” he said, describing the fourth set as the most challenging part of the match. Despite the physical toll, Ruud recovered from a five-minute heat break to win the deciding fifth set 6-2, securing a 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2 victory. The win earned him a spot in the second round, where he will face Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic. “I’m proud because I never gave in and didn’t give up,” Ruud said.#aryna_sabalenka #casper_ruud #meteo_france #roman_safiullin #hamad_medjedovic
