Casper Ruud exits French Open second round with knee injury pain

Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open finalist and recent Madrid Masters champion, was defeated in the second round of the 2025 French Open by Nuno Borges, marking his earliest exit at Roland-Garros since 2018. Ruud has been hampered by persistent left knee pain throughout the clay-court season, which affected his performance, especially during certain movements like the open-stance backhand. Despite taking pain-killing and anti-inflammatory medication and receiving treatment during the match, his knee discomfort worsened, leading to a significant drop in form and eventual loss in four sets. Ruud revealed that medical scans showed no serious damage, only fluid accumulation, but the pain influenced his ability to compete at his usual level. Borges, ranked 41st, made history as the first Portuguese man to reach the third round at the French Open. Ruud acknowledged his struggles but emphasized his determination to continue playing through the pain at such a prestigious Grand Slam event.