French Open Upset: Ruud Eliminated by Borges
In a stunning upset at the French Open, Casper Ruud, a two-time finalist and the tournament’s seventh seed, has been eliminated by Nuno Borges. Ruud, who has been battling an injury, demonstrated a noticeable decline in performance as he only managed to win a single game in the final two sets, ultimately losing with scores of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0. Despite taking a medical break to address discomfort in his left leg after the third set, he could not reclaim his form on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Ruud’s Early Exit
This defeat marks Ruud’s earliest exit from Roland Garros since 2018. The Norwegian previously made it to the finals in both 2022 and 2023, facing renowned opponents Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, while he reached the semi-finals last year, only to be defeated by Alexander Zverev. Recently, Ruud claimed his biggest title to date at the Madrid Open, where he triumphed over Jack Draper, and reached the quarter-finals in Rome, though he suffered a heavy loss to Jannik Sinner.
Borges’ Achievement
On the other hand, Nuno Borges celebrated a significant achievement as he secured his first victory over a top-10 player and progressed to the third round of the French Open for the first time in his career. Reflecting on his match, Borges, ranked World No. 41, expressed that he felt overwhelmed early on due to Ruud’s intensity but recognized a shift in momentum as Ruud seemed to struggle with his mobility.
“I kept trying and noticed he began to slow down a little bit. I understood he wasn’t operating at full capacity today, or otherwise, the outcome would have likely been different. Regardless, I’m proud of my effort,”
Borges commented. He noted his strategy of maintaining aggression paid off, allowing him to capitalize on Ruud’s vulnerabilities and secure a spot in the next stage of the tournament.
“Staying consistent and solid throughout the match really helped, and I am thrilled to reach the third round. This milestone means a lot to me.”
