French Open: Ruud downs Hurkacz to reach maiden major quarter-finals in Paris

Norway's Ruud, who will face either last year's runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas or 19-year-old Holger Rune on Wednesday, overcame a brief fightback from his 12th seeded opponent.

Norway's Casper Ruud celebrates winning a point as he plays Poland's Hubert Hurkacz during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Monday, May 30, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Eighth seed Casper Ruud reached his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final when he downed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-3 3-6 6-3 at the French Open on Monday.

Norway’s Ruud, who will face either last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas or 19-year-old Holger Rune on Wednesday, overcame a brief fightback from his 12th seeded opponent to achieve one of the goals he had set for himself this season.

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“It feels great, it was one of my goals this year. I feel more experienced playing best of five sets,” said Ruud, the first Norwegian in the last eight at Roland Garros.

Welcome to the final 🎱@CasperRuud98 reaches his first Grand Slam quarter-final, overcoming Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/9D7oOWNhsB

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2022

“Hubert has improved a lot on clay, he has become a dangerous player on all surfaces; he has a dangerous serve but I did well at returning it today.”

After an early trade of breaks, Ruud stole his opponent’s serve again to go 3-1 up as Hurkacz double faulted.

He left no room for hope to the Pole, making only two unforced errors before bagging the set as the 12th seed buried a forehand into the net.

“It’s been one of the goals for me this year.”

Mission accomplished @CasperRuud98 👏#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/gDmpUPzkeR

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2022

A fine backhand winner down the line gave him the break and a 2-0 lead in the second set, which was another easy affair for Ruud as Hurkacz still had to find his range on serve.

The Pole woke up in the third set and it was a different story, with several spectacular exchanges at the net.

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Hurkacz peppered the court with winners and he was rewarded with a break for 4-2 and held throughout to reduce the arrears.

Putting on a show 🥳#RolandGarros | @HubertHurkacz | @CasperRuud98 pic.twitter.com/MwbgFYNdxI

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2022

He stole Ruud’s serve right away to take command of the fourth set, only for the Norwegian to fight back for 2-2 with a crosscourt passing shot winner.

Ruud broke decisively for 4-2 as Hurkacz made yet another forehand error.

The Pole saved a match point at 5-2 but bowed out on the second when Ruud fired a crosscourt forehand winner.

Andrey Rublev into the French Open quarterfinals

Andrey Rublev is into the French Open quarterfinals for the second time in three years after his fourth-round opponent, 11th-seeded Jannik Sinner, stopped playing because of a problem with his left leg.

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The seventh-seeded Rublev was leading 1-6, 6-4, 2-0 when Sinner retired, grimacing as he walked off the court.

When @AndreyRublev97's eyes light up on Court Suzanne Lenglen 🤩#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/OaSXTFtAyt

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2022

Sinner’s leg was treated by a trainer during his previous match and then again Monday.

Rublev has lost a set in every match he has played this year at Roland Garros on the way to his fifth career Grand Slam quarterfinal. That will come against either reigning U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev or 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic.