Casper Ruud, the back-to-back losing finalist in Paris, has eased past qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves in straight sets to launch a renewed bid for a maiden grand slam title.
Fresh from his win in Geneva last week the world No.7 looked confident on the clay of at Roland Garros, serving close to 90% first serves as he sped past the Brazilian 6-3 6-4 6-3 in under two hours.
“This is one of the biggest tournaments for me and for everyone every year. One of my highlights,” the 25-year-old said.
“I’m always looking forward to it. The last two years have given me so much here in Paris. I hope I can make it another good year.”
“I think it’s been a good clay season for me. Madrid and Rome could’ve gone a bit better. It wasn’t what I hoped for. But other results went well. All in all I’m happy.”
Ruud, who also lost in the final of the 2022 US Open, earned three break points at 3-2 and more on the Brazilian’s next service game before snatching a break on his seventh opportunity to go 5-3 up and bag the first set.
Alves had matched Ruud’s power game for about an hour but gradually the mistakes piled up as Ruud did not give a single break point away in the entire second set.
Another early break in the third saw Ruud on the way to the second round where he will face either Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
In Tuesday’s other early result on another rain-affected start to the action Argentine 28th-seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated local hope Arthur Cazaux 3-6 6-2,6-1 6-4.
Source Agencies
