Roger Federer celebrates record 400th Grand Slam match by bashing Norway kid in French Open third round
EVERGREEN Roger Federer set another tennis record as he smashed Casper Ruud in their Battle of the Generations.
The Swiss ace enjoyed a 6-3 6-1 7-6 victory in round three of the French Open in his record 400th Grand Slam singles match.
Nobody, either male or female, has played in more matches across the four slams on the circuit.
The 37-year-old took just over two hours as he dispatched of the 20-year-old world No63 from Norway.
Federer, the winner of 20 Slam titles, made his debut at the highest level at the 1999 French Open.
Ironically in the same draw here 20 years ago was Christian Ruud, the father and coach of Casper, who reached a career-high ranking of 39 in the world during his time on the ATP Tour.
In their first meeting together, the No3 seed was no in mood to hang around on a hot afternoon in Paris against an opponent playing only his eighth Slam match.
Federer won the first set 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen within 38 minutes and then enjoyed two breaks of serve in the second, coming close to inflicting a ‘Bagel’ on his junior opponent.
Ruud, who is learning his trade at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, refused to buckle in the third set and forced the tie-breaker, even enjoying a set point at 7-6.
Yet Federer displayed his seniority and class in the decisive moments, securing the result on the fourth match point.
By wrapping up the result in straight sets, it means Federer has yet to drop a set during his spell here at Roland Garros this year.
Federer, in his first French Open since 2015, will now play French wildcard Nicolas Mahut or Argentine Leo Mayer in the last 16.
And though Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic remain the favourites to lift the trophy a week on Sunday, Federer is quietly moving through the draw as he chases a second French Open title.
His last triumph was ten years ago and he has the year ’09 etched on to his trainers.
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