Following a pair of five-set marathons at the French Open, Casper Ruud and Joao Fonseca will battle for a coveted quarterfinal spot at the season’s second Grand Slam on Sunday night.
Saying that each man is already on his second life at Roland Garros probably wouldn’t be accurate. It’s more like a third life, at least.
Ruud appeared to be down and out amidst scorching-hot conditions in round one. Somehow, though, the 16th-ranked Norwegian outlasted Roman Safiullin 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2 in three hours and 56 minutes. After easing past Hamad Medjedovic, Ruud saved two match points in the fourth set against Tommy Paul and ended up prevailing 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-5 in four hours and 43 minutes. Not to be outdone, Fonseca has twice come back from two sets down. The 19-year-old Brazilian beat Dino Prizmic 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 and then stunned Novak Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in four hours and 53 minutes. Fonseca began his fortnight with a much more straightforward victory over Luka Pavlovic.
This marks the first-ever head-to-head showdown between Ruud and Fonseca. In these conditions, it should be a matchup that favors Fonseca.
This is the night-session match on Court Philippe Chatrier, and temperatures throughout Sunday will finally be cooler. That means slower, lower-bouncing conditions — which really isn’t ideal for Ruud. Fonseca has the firepower to hit through any conditions with any shot; Ruud cannot — except off the forehand side. It will be the youngster dictating play for the most part, though, and that means a steady diet of massive forehands will be peppering the Ruud backhand. Unless the 27-year-old can dig has way out of those patterns, it will be a difficult day at the office for him.
Ruud obviously has a chance in this match, especially if he drags it on long enough to make Fonseca feel two five-setters in his legs. The bottom line, though, is that the match is on Fonseca’s racket. If the world No. 30 plays well, he will win. Ruud will have to play like he did in the last three sets against Paul and get some help from his opponent.
Pick: Fonseca in 4