Casper Ruud’s Red-Hot Clay Form: Can Norway’s Star Capture French Open Glory?

Clay-court specialist Casper Ruud begins his 2025 Roland-Garros campaign today with a first-round showdown against Spanish veteran Albert Ramos-Viñolas, a familiar opponent he has defeated in four of their five ATP tour meetings so far. Seeded No. 7 in Paris, the 25-year-old Norwegian arrives in confident form after a quarter-final run in Madrid, where he edged Daniil Medvedev before falling to Carlos Alcaraz. Ruud’s love affair with Roland-Garros is well documented: he reached back-to-back finals in 2022 and 2023, losing to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic respectively, and he was a semi-finalist last year. With the 2025 draw now open, many pundits list him among the prime threats to top seed Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the bottom half of the bracket. Today’s opening match on Court Suzanne-Lenglen offers Ruud an opportunity to set the tone for another deep run. Ramos-Viñolas, 37, is a savvy left-hander who owns four career clay titles, but his 2025 record is just 6-10 on the surface. The Norwegian holds a tour-leading 31 clay-court wins this season, showcasing his trademark heavy topspin forehand and vastly improved serve. Speaking to Norwegian media before play, Ruud emphasized the importance of a fast start: “I’ve learned that the first week here can be tricky. You want to conserve energy, so getting through the early rounds in straight sets is crucial.” That lesson was evident last year, when a four-set grind in round two cost him freshness later in the fortnight. Tactically, expect Ruud to target the Ramos backhand with high, looping forehands, drawing short replies before finishing with inside-out strikes. The Spaniard’s counter will be to extend rallies and exploit any short balls with his own heavy topspin forehand. Breaking early will be key for Ruud; Ramos has converted just 44 % of break points this season. Beyond the baseline duel, Ruud’s serve revamp under coach Christian Ruud continues to pay dividends. He is winning 73 % of first-serve points in 2025, up from 69 % two seasons ago, and has cut his double-fault rate in half. If those numbers hold, the Norwegian’s path to a third Paris final looks realistic. Weather could also favor Ruud’s game. Forecasted mild temperatures and light winds today will slow court speed, accentuating his high-bouncing topspin and making Ramos hit above shoulder height—an uncomfortable zone for the Spaniard. Should Ruud advance, he faces either French wildcard Titouan Droguet or Australian teenager Rinky Hijikata in round two, with a potential fourth-round clash against Taylor Fritz looming. The draw presents hurdles, but none he hasn’t cleared before. As day two action unfolds, Ruud remains one of the most searched-for names in tennis news feeds, and with good reason. A clinical opening performance will only strengthen the narrative that 2025 could finally be the year the Norwegian lifts his maiden Grand Slam trophy on the terre battue of Roland-Garros.