Holger Rune ousts Stefanos Tsitsipas to set Roland Garros clash with fellow first-time major quarterfinalist Casper Ruud


A significant breakthrough awaits the winner of Casper Ruud and Holger Rune as the two moved on at Roland Garros Monday to line up an intriguing quarterfinal.


Ruud has long been tipped as a potential future winner of this event crown and two days earlier, cleared a third-round hurdle for the first time in four tries.v


Last December, the world No. 8 told us in Oslo that his goal for the year was to reach a major quarterfinal…


… one he attained after defeating No. 12 seed Hubert Hurkacz, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The 23-year-old wiped away an early break in the fourth set to finish strong.


Rune had long taken the court when Ruud finished, also looking to extend his best major run on Court Philippe Chatrier against returning runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.


The 19-year-old, who triumphed at Munich in April for his first ATP title, outhit the Greek by clubbing 54 winners to 38 unforced errors (vs. 41 and 33)…


… and shook off late cramps to send Tsitsipas packing, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in just over three hours to become his nation’s first major men’s quarterfinalist in the Open Era.


Rune is yet to win a set in three prior meetings (all on clay) with Ruud, though recently pushed his Scandinavian neighbor at Monte Carlo in a narrow 7-6 (5), 7-5 defeat.