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Facing Roger Federer: Surely Unforgettable for Casper Ruud, if Not His Father

Martin Bureau/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

PARIS — Imagine practicing with Roger Federer at the French Open and not even remembering it. That is the case for Christian Ruud, the father and coach of Casper Ruud, Federer’s opponent in the third round at Roland Garros on Friday.

The elder Ruud, a Norwegian who was ranked No. 39 in 1995, does recall hitting with a teenage Federer at an exhibition tournament in Houston in the 1990s. But it was not until Ruud’s old fitness coach texted him on Thursday morning that Ruud was made aware that he (probably) had practiced with Federer at the French Open in 1999.