“Ruud survives the chaos and remains in the fight in Paris.”

Casper Ruud is proving to be the last great force standing at Roland-Garros, having overcome an epic battle against Tommy Paul and keeping the flame of hope alive in the Paris tournament. At a time when no former Grand Slam champions remain in the round of 16, the Norwegian — a three-time finalist who has lost in major finals — has taken on the role of emerging favorite, ready to capitalize on an open and unpredictable draw.

Ruud, who had already been a finalist at Roland-Garros in 2022 and 2023, endured a true five-set war against Paul, coming back from two sets down and saving two match points in a match that lasted nearly five hours, finishing 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-5. “I felt he was the superior player in the first two sets; my serve was what kept me alive in the second. He dominated a lot, played freely and aggressively, came to the net and unsettled my game,” Ruud commented, noting that he only managed to turn the tide of the match by breaking early in the third set. “These battles are what you train hard for.”

The elimination of Novak Djokovic on Friday, alongside the early exit of Jannik Sinner and the departure of other favorites such as Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Marin Čilić, and Stan Wawrinka, has completely opened up the race for the title. No former Grand Slam champion remains in the tournament, paving the way for surprises and a new winner. Ruud, along with Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini—all Grand Slam finalists, although only Zverev and Ruud have reached multiple finals—are now the leading candidates to secure that coveted first major title.

“The tournament is so open that it’s refreshing to see that we will have a new Slam champion in about a week,” said the Norwegian. “All the players are aware of this. Novak and Jannik were the top favorites, especially Jannik. It will be interesting to see who stands out by next week.”

With an impressive record of 27 wins and only 8 losses at Roland-Garros — surpassed only by Zverev, who has a 41-10 record — Ruud knows that his experience on big stages could be decisive. However, he maintains his step-by-step approach: “I will try to use the experience of having gone far in Slams to my advantage and see how far that takes me. The focus is on one match at a time.”

In the round of 16, Ruud faces João Fonseca, the young Brazilian who has already eliminated Djokovic and has also staged a victorious comeback after being two sets down. Despite his limited experience in the later stages of Grand Slams, Fonseca has impressed and is considered a real threat. “I have an incredible task ahead of me against a young and special talent like João. He has already beaten great players and knows what it takes to compete at this level,” acknowledged the Norwegian. “We are in a similar situation, both of us have come back from two sets down. It has been a long journey, so I hope to provide him with a good challenge. He’s a nice guy, and I expect a great match.”

With the draw revealing itself as a true jungle of uncertainties, Casper Ruud emerges as the most solid and experienced name, ready to take advantage of the absence of the favorites and perhaps lift his first Grand Slam trophy in what promises to be a historic and emotionally charged edition of Roland-Garros until the last point.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.