Ruud Survives Five-Set Scare Against Safiullin in Roland Garros Opener
Norwegian Casper Ruud, seeded 15th, defeated Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin 6:2, 7:6, 5:7, 0:6, 6:2 in the first round. The match lasted nearly 4 hours.
Roland Garros: Ruud Outlasts Safiullin in Five-Set Battle Despite Heatstroke
Date: May 26, 2026
Tournament: Roland Garros (French Open), Men's Singles, First Round
Score: Casper Ruud (Norway, 15th seed) vs. Roman Safiullin (Russia, qualifier) — 6:2, 7:6 (7:5), 5:7, 0:6, 6:2
Main Event
On May 25, 2026, Court Simonne-Mathieu at Roland Garros witnessed a true tennis drama with thriller elements. In the first round, world No. 15 Casper Ruud faced Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin, ranked 141st in the ATP. What started as a walk in the park for the favorite turned into an almost four-hour survival battle — 3 hours 56 minutes of play.
Ruud, a two-time Roland Garros finalist (2022 and 2023), was considered the overwhelming favorite. He confidently took the first two sets and held five match points at 5-2 in the third set. But then the unbelievable happened: the Norwegian lost 11 consecutive games, dropped the third set, and was whitewashed in the fourth — 0-6. However, in the decisive fifth set, Ruud managed to pull himself together and close out the match 6-2. This victory marked his 9th win in 9 first-round matches at Roland Garros; the Norwegian has never been eliminated in the opening round of the Paris major.
Details and Statistics
The first two sets went according to Ruud's script. The Norwegian dominated from the baseline and quickly wrapped up the first set 6-2. In the second set, Safiullin fought back, forcing a tiebreak, but Ruud kept his cool to win 7-6 (7-5).
The third set proved pivotal. Ruud led 5-2 and held three match points at 40-0 on his serve. However, the Russian refused to give in: he saved all three, plus two more, leveled the score at 5-5, then broke and took the set 7-5. That was only half of Ruud's troubles: midway through the third set, the Norwegian began to feel unwell.
"Problems started creeping in midway through the third set. When I led 3-1, my calves started cramping, and I thought, 'Damn, here we go,'" Ruud admitted in the press conference.
The fourth set turned into a nightmare for the Norwegian. He looked completely lost on court, unable to move, and failed to win a single game — 0-6. Early in the set, Ruud called for the physiotherapist: due to the 33°C heat in Paris, he suffered heatstroke. "I had a fever and dizziness. It was very hard to see the ball," the Norwegian said after the match.
Ironically, before the fifth set, Safiullin also requested medical attention — the Russian complained of leg pain. The match was interrupted for over 16 minutes to treat both players. In the deciding set, Ruud managed to turn the tide: he secured an early break and closed out the set 6-2.
Match Statistics (via GoTennis.ru):
| Statistic | Safiullin | Ruud |
|-----------|-----------|------|
| Aces | 7 | 6 |
| Double faults | 9 | 6 |
| Breaks | 6 | 6 |
| Winners | 69 | 44 |
| Unforced errors | 56 | 52 |
| Total points won | 151 | 147 |
Paradoxical stats: Safiullin won more points (151 vs. 147) and hit more winners, but it was the Norwegian who advanced.
Context and Significance
This match vividly demonstrated why Casper Ruud remains one of the world's strongest clay-court players, despite physical struggles. Since 2020, the Norwegian leads the ATP in clay-court wins with 144 victories. In 2026, his record on the surface stands at 14 wins and 4 losses, with one of those defeats coming in the final of the prestigious Masters 1000 in Rome shortly before Paris.
For Roman Safiullin, this match confirmed his fighting spirit. The 24-year-old Russian reached the main draw through qualifying, defeating three opponents en route to Roland Garros. His comeback from 2-5 in the third set against one of the world's best clay-courters is a serious statement for the future.
Notably, Ruud said he drew inspiration from Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the 2026 Australian Open. Sinner also struggled with heat but recovered after the roof closed. Alcaraz lost the third and fourth sets in his semifinal against Alexander Zverev but "came alive" in the fifth to win the match.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
In the second round of Roland Garros, Casper Ruud will face 20-year-old Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, who defeated Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round. Medjedovic is a product of Novak Djokovic's academy, a clay-court specialist, but lacks experience at such late stages of majors.
For Ruud, the main task now is to physically recover from the grueling five-set match and heatstroke. The next match is scheduled for May 27 or 28.
Editorial Prediction
The match against Medjedovic will be a test of Ruud's resilience: can the Norwegian recover in two days after such physical exhaustion? On one hand, Ruud's class is far superior to the Serbian's — a two-time Roland Garros finalist should advance without major issues. On the other hand, if cramping and overheating problems resurface, Medjedovic could make it competitive. We believe Ruud will reach the second round, but again in three or four sets: his experience and mental toughness, as demonstrated against Safiullin, are too significant. The main question is whether the Norwegian can avoid a repeat of heatstroke, given that the Parisian heat shows no signs of abating.
— Editorial Team
