Eighth seed Casper Ruud advanced to the round of 16 at the US Open 2024 with a remarkable comeback victory over Juncheng Shang. The Norwegian tennis player triumphed over the Chinese opponent with a scoreline of 6-7 (1), 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-1 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Friday.
Casper Ruud faced a challenging start, conceding the first two sets after struggling with three double faults and 15 unforced errors in the opening set. The second set saw a continuation of his difficulties, as he registered 11 unforced errors and an equal number of double faults. However, in a dramatic turnaround, Casper Ruud dominated the third set with a 6-0 victory, signaling his comeback. He then proceeded to break Juncheng Shang’s serve four times and successfully saved three break points across the fourth and fifth sets, ultimately securing the match.
In his post-match interview, Casper Ruud emphasized the importance of mental strength in his victory. “It requires a strong mentality. We’re all physically strong out here. It’s a matter of having the right mindset and believing all the way. Luckily, I wasn’t down in the third set… that third set probably got some fire going. I just kept believing. I felt really in the zone in the last set. It’s the second time in my career and the second time here at the US Open. So there’s something about this place, I guess,” Casper Ruud shared with the broadcasters.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Casper Ruud’s career. It is only the second time he has successfully come back from a two-set deficit. The last time he reached the second week of the US Open, he advanced to the final. This win also represents Casper Ruud’s 47th victory of the year and his second appearance in the round of 16 at the US Open.
Reflecting on the match, Casper Ruud humorously noted the contrast between the early and later stages of the game. “Good question. The first two sets weren’t too fun. The last three sets were very fun,” he remarked.
Casper Ruud, currently ranked No. 8, will face American Taylor Fritz, the No. 12 seed, in the round of 16.
