‘One match can change everything’ - Resurgent Casper Ruud eyes Roland-Garros redemption in Paris next week

Casper Ruud wants to go one step further at the French Open this year than he did last term, when he was beaten by his idol Rafael Nadal in the final. Preparation has been far from ideal for Ruud in the run-up to the second Grand Slam of the year, with the world No. 4 enduring a tricky start to the campaign.

Ad He was seeded second at the Australian Open but came up well short when he was eliminated by Jenson Brooksby in the second round, before losing in the round of 32 at both Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Roland-Garros'This is your chance' — Wilander urges stars to step up with Nadal ruled out8 HOURS AGO A much-needed boost came at the Estoril Open where he claimed his 10th career title, before another disappointing outing at the Monte Carlo Masters. After exiting the Barcelona Open in the round of 16 and a first-round disaster in Madrid, he has fought back with an inspired run to the Italian Open semi-final.

“It's not fun at all,” Ruud admitted to Roland Garros media of his early season slump. “As tennis players we live off trying to win matches, that’s sort of everything we have. “It’s always like this constant battle to try to win as many matches as possible; you sort of start thinking when you lose more than you would like.

‘What am I doing wrong? How come all these other players are improving and I’m stuck where I am?’ And can’t really get out of these negative thoughts. “But I think that things can change, for the better or for the worse very quickly. One match can be the solution to everything, it can change a whole year, or maybe one point even.