Casper Ruud survived brutal heat and a fierce challenge from Roman Safiullin to reach the second round of the French Open, battling through dizziness, medical attention, and a dramatic five-set match at Roland Garros. The two-time French Open finalist looked close to collapse during parts of the contest, but he recovered after a heat break to secure a hard-fought victory and keep his tournament hopes alive.
A Strong Start Turns Into a Survival Battle
The 15th-seeded Ruud appeared to be in control early against Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin. He won the first two sets and led 5-2 in the third, putting himself within touching distance of a straight-sets victory.
But the match suddenly changed. Ruud failed to convert five match points, and Safiullin fought back to take the third set 7-5. By then, Ruud was moving gingerly around the court and looked physically drained as the extreme heat began to take a serious toll.
Heat Pushes Ruud to the Edge
The conditions became even more punishing in the fourth set, which Safiullin won 6-0. Ruud received medical attention after the first and third games, trying to cool himself down by pouring water over his head, placing an ice-filled towel around his neck, and rubbing ice on his face.
Temperatures during the nearly four-hour match reached 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or 33 degrees Celsius, according to Météo-France.
“It was kind of heatstroke feeling,” Ruud said afterwards. “I had experienced something similar some years ago when I played in Washington DC, and I had to retire in the third set.
“That’s the only time I had that feeling I had today in the fourth set, where I felt at times really dizzy and walking around like a zombie almost.”
A Five-Minute Break Changes the Match
After the fourth set, Ruud was given a five-minute heat break. That pause allowed him to lower his “pulse and body temperature down as much possible,” giving him enough recovery time to regroup before the deciding set.
The break proved crucial. Ruud returned to the court with more control and energy, taking the fifth set 6-2 to complete a 6-2, 7-6(5), 5-7, 0-6, 6-2 victory.
Pride After a Gutsy Finish
Ruud said the win meant a lot because he refused to quit, even when his body was clearly struggling.
“I’m proud because I never gave in (and) I didn’t give up. I’d rather be out there and lose (6-0 and 6-0) than retire, but it didn’t look pretty there in the fourth,” he said after his gutsy display.
“(But) of course, very happy that I was able to kind of jump start an almost dead body.”
With the victory, Ruud advanced to the second round, where he is set to face Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic on Wednesday.
Europe’s Heatwave Raises Wider Concerns
The extreme heat at Roland Garros is part of a wider European heatwave that is affecting France and could continue to impact players throughout the tournament.
Météo-France said 352 French towns recorded their highest-ever May temperatures on Monday. The agency also placed 31 of France’s 96 administrative departments on “high-temperature alert” until Tuesday.
Temperatures were expected to climb as high as 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees Celsius, on Tuesday. Météo-France described the conditions as a “premature, remarkable and long” heat episode that could last several more days.
Deadly Consequences Beyond Tennis
The heat has also raised serious public safety concerns across France. Maud Bregeon, a French government spokesperson, told French TV network TF1 that there have been “seven deaths directly or indirectly linked to the heat, including at least five from drowning, as well as deaths related to extreme heat during sports events.”
On Sunday, a 53-year-old man died during a running event in Paris, and a woman died at a Hyrox sports event in Lyon, according to the Associated Press citing local media reports.
It has not yet been confirmed whether the deaths were heat-related. However, France’s Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, appeared to connect the incidents to the dangerous weather, saying the deaths were “a stark reminder that practicing sports in extreme heat requires absolute vigilance.”
Sabalenka Advances Despite Sweltering Conditions
While Ruud struggled through the heat in a dramatic five-set match, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka handled the conditions more comfortably. She defeated Spanish qualifier Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday to reach the second round.
Her win showed that players are responding differently to the conditions, but the heat remains a major storyline as Roland Garros continues.
Closing Paragraph
Casper Ruud’s victory was more than a first-round win. It was a test of endurance, patience, and physical survival in dangerous heat. As the French Open continues under scorching temperatures, his match stands as an early reminder that extreme weather can change the rhythm of a tournament, challenge even elite athletes, and raise serious concerns far beyond the tennis court.
