PARIS: The eighth seed Casper Ruud downed Hubert Hurkacz in the fourth round of the ongoing French Open by 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to become the first Norwegian to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Norway’s Ruud, who made history by qualifying for the French Open quarter-finals overcame a brief fightback from his opponent and managed to achieve one of the goals, he set for himself.
The Norwegian started off brilliantly as he pulled ahead 3-1 in the first set as Hurkacz double-faulted. He gave no chance to his Polish opponent, making just two errors before sealing the first set.
The eighth seed, fuelled with momentum, continued his brilliance as he also sealed the second set after an easy affair by 6-3.
The Polish then roared back in the third set as he found his rhythm and pushed Ruud back to 4-2 before holding throughout to cut the lead.
Hurkacz also started the fourth set with determination as he stole Ruud’s serve to go up, only for the latter to fight back and level at 2-2 with a crosscourt shot.
Hurkacz made yet another forehand error as Ruud broke for a 4-2 lead. At 5-2, the Pole escaped a match point, but Ruud won the second with a crosscourt forehand winner.
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