PARIS, May 31, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Roger Federer continues his first French
Open campaign in four years on Friday with a third-round match against
Norway’s Casper Ruud, while reigning champion Rafael Nadal faces Belgian
David Goffin.
Here, AFP Sport takes a look at three matches to watch on the sixth day of
the tournament:
Roger Federer (SUI x3) v Casper Ruud (NOR)
First meeting
— Federer heads into his 15th Roland Garros third-round match looking in
strong form after back-to-back straight-sets wins over Italian Lorenzo Sonego
and German lucky loser Oscar Otte, and faces another unknown quantity in
Casper Ruud.
The Norwegian’s father Christian actually played in the 1999 French Open
when a 17-year-old Federer made his main-draw debut.
“They practised together,” said Casper ahead of his big day on Court
Suzanne Lenglen. “So I think I remember I thought it was cool, but I was
young when he told me. I didn’t realise how big of a player and champion
Roger was at the time.”
Federer has gone on to win a record 20 Grand Slam titles since, although
his sole French Open success came 10 years ago.
Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) v David Goffin (BEL x27)
Nadal leads head-to-head 3-1
— Nadal faces a tricky contest against former top-10 player Goffin on
Court Philippe Chatrier after strolling through his first two rounds against
German qualifiers Yannick Hanfmann and Yannick Maden.
The 11-time champion is a red-hot favourite to win a record-extending 12th
title, and has beaten Goffin in three of their four meetings, including all
three on clay.
But Goffin will take heart from their quarter-final meeting in Madrid two
years ago, when he managed to force a tie-break in the opening set.
“He (Goffin) is a very complex player. He has all the shots,” said Nadal.
“He’s a player who has had an amazing career, and we practised a lot of
times. We know each other well.”
Elina Svitolina (UKR x9) v Garbine Muguruza (ESP x19)
Svitolina leads head-to-head 5-3
— Ninth seed Svitolina will go into her clash with 2016 champion Muguruza
fresh after receiving a walkover through the second round when fellow
Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova withdrew from the tournament.
Svitolina has struggled with injuries this season but said she is back to
full fitness, while former world number one Muguruza has slipped down the
rankings in the last 18 months.
The 24-year-old Svitolina holds a 5-3 lead in their head-to-head record,
having won their last three meetings, including their only one on clay in the
2017 Rome semi-finals when Muguruza retired with injury.