Norway's Ruud, France's Garcia put perfect United Cup records on line in QF

Peter Staples/ATP Tour

Thursday's United Cup quarter-final between France and Norway will see the leading players from both nations bid to extend their perfect singles records this year in the competition. 

Norway's Casper Ruud enters a showdown with Adrian Mannarino behind straight-sets victories against Tallon Griekspoor and Borna Coric. At No. 11 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Ruud will be favourite to extend his winning streak against World No. 22 Adrian Mannarino.

Mannarino lost his opening match to Alexander Zverev but bounced back with a tie-clinching win against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego on Wednesday. He will now bid to extend his Lexus ATP Head2Head advantage to 2-0 against Ruud, whom he beat in straight sets in their lone previous meeting at the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters.

But before their meeting, Caroline Garcia will put another perfect mark on the line against Malene Helgo. The French taliswoman is a perfect 3-0 at the United Cup, with all three wins coming in three sets.

The World No. 20 beat Italy's Jasmine Paolini on Wednesday after a comeback against Germany's Angelique Kerber on Monday. In between those singles wins, she also clinched victory against Germany in a dramatic Match Tie-break alongside Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

👀 TURNING UP

Quarter-finals hit Sydney.#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/0VdO1U75kq

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 3, 2024

If the France vs. Norway quarter-final tie requires a doubles decider, Garcia and Roger-Vasselin will team again opposite Ruud and Ulrikke Eikeri, who split their two doubles rubbers in group play.