Roland Garros 2024 Men’s Day 3

Casper Ruud picked up where he left off with last weekend’s Geneva title, with the seventh seed opening his French Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Felipe Meligeni Alves on Tuesday.

The match was one of the handful scheduled on the pair of covered courts at Roland Garros as several days of match-interrupting rain set in.

Ruud’s defeat in just under two hours of his 137th-ranked Brazilian opponent from qualifying got the 2022 and 2023 runner-up here off to a flying start.

The Norwegian has now won his fifth match in a row heading into the second round.

“It was a good start for me, I hit the ball well without too many unforced errors,” Ruud said. “I was quite steady.

“I found my groove. I played well in Geneva and hope I can bring that form here to Paris.”

Ruud advanced with 23 winners and 18 unforced errors.

He said the closed roof of the Chatrier court made for a slower match.

“It was a bit cold today, 15-16 (Celsius),” he said. “It’s weather we’re not used to here.

“That makes the ball slower in a way, the ounces are not as high as on a sunny, warm day.”

The Scandinavian increased his lead in season match wins to 36; he also stands 11-1 in opening rounds in 2024. 

French hopes suffered a blow as Arthur Cazaux lost to Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

Alex de Minaur, the 11th seed, made up for lost time after play on outside courts began five hours late, with the Aussie pounding Alex Michelsen with the loss of just three games for a second-round spot.

“It was not easy out there today. a long day, stop, starting,” he said.

“Mentally dealing with cold and rain in your face. I just had to be solid and make sure I had good mentality today. 

:That’s probably the most important thing.”

Taylor Fritz had to work to overcome 71st-ranked Federico Coria, earning a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 comeback victory.

“It wasn’t too bad, I’ve played in worse,” the Californian said of his half-day wait to take to the court.

“The toughest thing was that the match just deviated from the (original) schedule to get put on (quickly).  . 

“It’s a three-out-of-five men’s match, so it was pretty safe

it’s going to (last) at least two hours.”

Dane Holger Rune ended British men’s participation in this edition with his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Dan Evans.