US Open: Ruud eliminated by qualifier Collignon!

Raphael Collignon beat Casper Ruud 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday

27 August 2025

Raphaël Collignon, 2025 | © Zuma / Panoramic

US Open •Second round • Completed

Belgian qualifier Raphael Collignon staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday, handing the No. 12 seed and 2022 runner-up a stunning exit from the tournament.

The victory, secured in a thrilling five-set encounter that lasted over four hours, is one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 US Open so far, tied with the first-round defeat of former champion Daniil Medvedev. Played on the intimate setting of Stadium 17, the match captivated the crowd as the underdog found his rhythm against a seasoned Grand Slam finalist.

“It was difficult,” Collignon told reporters after the match, reflecting on his mid-match slump. “Casper is one of the toughest players in the world, and he wasn’t missing anything. My coach just told me to stay aggressive and take my chances when they came.”

Break point for Ruud

Collignon, ranked world No. 107, overcame a two-sets-to-one deficit to secure his second tour-level win and his first-ever Grand Slam main draw victory. The 23-year-old showcased an aggressive, all-or-nothing game, hitting a career-high 52 winners and serving 18 aces throughout the match. He won 69% of his first-serve points, a key factor in his ability to regain control after losing the second and third sets.

The first set saw Collignon’s forehand firing on all cylinders, allowing him to break the Norwegian’s serve at a crucial moment to take the early lead. However, Ruud, known for his relentless consistency, responded by dominating the middle portion of the match. The Norwegian’s powerful forehand and composed defense saw him cruise through the second and third sets, appearing to put the upset bid to rest.

In the fourth set, with Ruud leading 3-2, Collignon saved two break points with a pair of clutch aces. This shift in momentum seemed to energize the Belgian, who then broke Ruud to go up 4-3 before serving out the set to force a decider.

Greatest Collignon’s win in career

The final set was a back-and-forth battle, with both players trading blows until the eleventh game. With the score tied at 5-5, Collignon broke through one last time, hitting a stunning down-the-line backhand winner to set himself up to serve for the match. He confidently closed out the victory on his first match point with an unreturnable first serve.

The win marks a significant milestone for the young Belgian, who only broke into the top 100 in February of this year and had a previous career-high ranking of No. 81 in April. His journey has not been without its challenges, including a serious shoulder injury in late 2024 that sidelined him for over two months.

Before this tournament, Collignon was 0-2 against top 50-ranked players, making the victory over Ruud, who has been as high as No. 2 in the world, his biggest career win. His coach, former world No. 38 Steve Darcis, watched on as his protégé became the first Belgian man to post a Top 20 win at the US Open since Olivier Rochus defeated No. 15 Jarkko Nieminen in 2006.

With this win, Collignon advances to the third round, where he will face the Czech Jiri Lehecka, the No. 20 seed. The victory, following his opening-round win against Cristian Garin, makes him the third Belgian man to reach the US Open third round since 2010 – like Zizou Bergs, who benefited from Jack Draper’s withdrawal.

New York (Grand Slam), other second-round results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 90.000.000, most recent results first):