Ruud Beats Struff to Reach Paris Masters QF

Casper Ruud never faced a break point. The Norwegian beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour and 4 minutes on Court Central on Thursday to reach the Rolex Paris Masters quarterfinals for the second time, after 2021, and set up a rematch with lucky loser Nuno Borges.

The win lifts Ruud from No. 22 to No. 19 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Borges had already booked the quarterfinal with a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of Ignacio Buse earlier Thursday. Their head-to-head is split 2-2, and Borges won the most recent meeting 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Basel round of 16 last week.

Held All Nine Service Games

Struff held to love for 2-2 in the opening set, but Ruud broke two games later on his second break point to lead 4-2. He sealed the match with a third break, converting his first match point with Struff serving at 3-5, per Tennis Majors and Infosys ATP Stats.

Ruud held all nine of his service games and won 81 percent of points on first serve (29 of 36) against 59 percent for Struff. He struck eight aces and made seven unforced errors while Struff made 12. For a Round of 16 that looked like it could stretch, the Norwegian never let the German get a look on return.

Path Through Cerundolo and Jodar

Ruud opened the week with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Juan Manuel Cerundolo, then beat Rafael Jodar 6-3, 6-4. Struff, 36, had arrived via Arthur Gea and Thiago Agustin Tirante after a Brussels final and a Basel semifinal. He missed the chance to become the second-oldest quarterfinalist in Paris Masters history.

The clean hold-and-break pattern is what Ruud needed indoors. Zero break points faced against a big server who had been swinging free all week is the kind of Round of 16 that sets up a real quarterfinal.

Quarterfinal: Borges Rematch Friday

Ruud and Borges meet Friday not before 8:30 p.m. Paris time on Court Central. Borges is the first lucky loser ever into a Paris Masters quarterfinal after losing in qualifying to Alex Molcan, then beating Moise Kouame, Karen Khachanov, and Buse in the main draw. Settling the Basel score is the subplot. Surviving a lucky loser who has already rewritten his week is the job.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Ruud first-serve points won vs Borges. He just won 29 of 36 first-serve points and faced zero break points against Struff.

A second Paris quarterfinal, a live ranking jump into the Top 20, and a rematch with Borges. That is a Thursday done the Ruud way.