Marin Cilic Vs Casper Ruud Highlights, AO Open 2026: Norwegian Player Outplays Croatian

Hello Tennis fans! Welcome to the live coverage of the round three of the Australian Open 2026 between Marin Cilic and Casper Ruud. Stay tuned with us for the live score and real-time updates of the match.

Matches: 4

Marin Cilic: 0

Casper Ruud: 4

Marin Cilic: The Croat clobbered Daniel Altmaier (6-0, 6-0, 7-6) and Denis Shapovalov (6-4, 6-3, 6-2) in first and second round respectively in straight sets.

Casper Ruud: The former No.3 also pipped both his opponents - Belluci M (6-1, 6-2, 6-4) and Munar J (6-4, 7-5, 6-4) in three straight sets,

Both players have held on their serve as the score moves to 1-0 in the 1st set in the favour of Marin Cilic.

After conceding an early game, Ruud has made an excellent comeback in the 1st set as he takes his lead to 3-1. The former No.2 clearly showing why he's had an upper hand over Cilic in the last few matches.

Set

Cilic 1-3 Ruud

After being pushed to the corner, Cilic has a good comeback to give a tough fight to Ruud. Though, the Norwegian still has got the edge, the Croatian is still not far behind.

Set 1

Cilic 4-5 Ruud

The first set is done and dusted! It was a hard-fought set by Casper Ruud kept his nerve and won the first set by 6-4. We're now into the second set with Ruud leading 1-0.

Cilic 0-1 Ruud

Second set back in motion, and Casper Ruud is right back to business. Cilic pinched the opener 6-4, but look at this now, Ruud sprinting ahead 5-3 and serving next, calm as you like.

The Norwegian is in that gorgeous rhythm mode, landing bombs, gliding through points, barely breaking sweat. This is elite-level serving on repeat.

Big moment coming up though. Cilic walks up to the line knowing this is survival time, hold here or the set is gone.

Ruud holds his nerve and grabs the second set 6-4 to level this one up. The final game is pure drama, net-cord luck hands Cilic three break points, but Ruud swats one away with an ace, saves another with a brave second serve, and keeps punching the air as he survives again and again.

One last ace seals it. Set all now, and the three-time Grand Slam finalist suddenly has all the momentum heading into the decider.

Third set underway and Marin Cilic finally gets on the board first, holding serve to lead 1-0. He’ll be glad to see that scoreboard moving again after that heartbreak at the end of the second.

But here’s the big question, can he turn that frustration into a breakthrough now? Ruud is walking out to serve, and after escaping all those break points earlier, Cilic will feel this is the moment to strike. Pressure back on, and this decider already feels spicy.

Marin Cilic roars back and snatches the third set 6-3, refusing to let this slip away. The forehand is suddenly on fire, two lasers down the line, full commitment, no hesitation, and Ruud can only watch them whistle past.

That’s a statement hold to close it out, and now this match has officially turned into a battle. Fourth set loading, and nobody’s going anywhere just yet.

Casper Ruud hangs on and edges past Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in a thriller that had everything.

The fourth set finale is rollercoaster stuff, Cilic starts firing wide serves and simple winners to take an early 40-0 lead, but Ruud digs in like a wall, rallying off massive forehands while surviving a nerve-jangling double fault to push it back to deuce. Every point feels like a mini-final, with Ruud’s defensive wizardry shining through, turning the tide and earning match point.

One last forehand from Cilic sails long, and that’s it, Ruud seals it! A gutsy, resilient victory after more than three hours, and the Norwegian moves on, leaving the crowd buzzing from a nail-biter.

That's a wrap, we will be back with another live blog until then bye bye.