Ruud never faces a break point against JM Cerundolo and sets up Jodar clash in Paris
The Norwegian held all nine service games to beat qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2 in 61 minutes, his first win in Paris since 2022. Ninth seed Rafael Jodar is next.
Ruud vs JM Cerundolo, Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | © Chryslène Caillaud / Panoramic
Casper Ruud did not face a break point in beating Argentinian qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2 in 61 minutes in the first round of the Paris Masters 1000 on Monday. The Norwegian will face ninth seed Rafael Jodar in the second round.
His match, the last of the day session on Court Central, was followed by the ceremony for new World No. 1 Alexander Zverev.
Ruud, ranked No. 23, earned his first win at the event since 2022, ending a run of four straight defeats in Paris. The result levelled their head-to-head at 2-2. Cerundolo had beaten him in two Gstaad quarter-finals, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 in 2025 and 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 this year. Ruud won their other meeting 6-1, 6-2 in Montreal in August.
Ruud holds all nine service games against Cerundolo
Ruud converted three of his five break points and won 82% of the points on his serve. He hit 27 winners to Cerundolo’s 12 and won 10 of his 11 points at the net.
Cerundolo, ranked No. 54, made five double faults, four of them in the second set. His appearance in Paris completed a set of main-draw appearances at all nine Masters 1000 tournaments.
Ruud reached the Rome final and the quarter-finals in Madrid and Shanghai this season.
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 first-round results
Lorenzo Musetti d. Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10)
Luca Van Assche d. Mariano Navone 6-3, 7-5
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Learner Tien (15) (Tuesday)
Novak Djokovic (10) vs Valentin Vacherot (Tuesday)
Rinky Hijikata (Q) d. Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2
Andrey Rublev vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Tuesday)
Cameron Norrie d. Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Mattia Bellucci (Q) d. Lorenzo Sonego (Q) 6-4, 6-3
Arthur Rinderknech vs Francisco Cerundolo (16) (Tuesday)
Tommy Paul (12) vs Holger Rune (PR) (Tuesday)
Daniel Merida d. Sebastian Baez (LL) 6-4, 6-2
Quentin Halys vs Arthur Fery (Tuesday)
Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) vs Arthur Gea (WC) (Tuesday)
Casper Ruud d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Q) 6-3, 6-2
Rafael Jodar (9) d. Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (13) vs Moise Kouame (WC) (Tuesday)
Denis Shapovalov vs Karen Khachanov (Monday)
Ignacio Buse d. Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-4
Kyrian Jacquet (WC) vs Tomas Machac (Q) (Monday)
Alex Molcan (Q) vs Titouan Droguet (WC) (Monday)
Benjamin Bonzi (Q) vs Taylor Fritz (11) (Tuesday)
Brandon Nakashima (14) vs Matteo Berrettini (Tuesday)
Ugo Humbert vs Botic van de Zandschulp (Monday)
Alex Michelsen vs Jiri Lehecka (Tuesday)
