Roland-Garros Casper Ruud joins Novak Djokovic in the final

(Paris) The Norwegian Casper Ruud, world N.4, qualified for his second final in a row at Roland-Garros at the expense of the German Alexander Zverev, ex-N. 2 global today 27^edominated 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in 2 h 09 min on Friday.

In the final on Sunday, Ruud will challenge Novak Djokovic, who will be looking to become the first man to land a 23^e Grand Slam title. The 36-year-old Serbian emerged 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 from the clash with world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, beset by cramp in the third set, earlier in the day.

At 24, the Norwegian will play his third Grand Slam final, the third in a year after those of Roland-Garros and the United States Open in 2022, lost respectively against Rafael Nadal and Alcaraz.

A year ago, Ruud was outclassed 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 by Nadal.

“I didn’t come thinking that I was favorite to go to the final, not at all,” admitted the Scandinavian player, who had a very average first part of the season before Roland-Garros.

However, there was better on clay, with a title in Estoril in April and a semi-final at the Masters 1000 in Rome just before the Grand Slam in Paris.

“Here, two weeks later, I’m back in the final. I hope the third will be the right one! added Ruud.

“Last year it was Rafa, this time it’s Novak… I won’t be the favourite, so I’ll try to play without too many emotions, enjoy it, smile as much as I can, I know it will be difficult,” he anticipated.

Zverev was experiencing a rebirth at Roland-Garros until then, a year after seriously injuring his right ankle in the middle of the semi-final against Nadal.

But the 26-year-old German, who started the match with a massive bandage around his left thigh on Friday night, never really seemed able to threaten his Norwegian opponent.

He even completely collapsed in the third set, like his series of failed smashes, sent into the net or out of bounds.

In total, Zverev, as if at the end of his tether, recorded 37 unforced errors in three sets, against 31 winners. Ruud’s record is positive (25 winning shots against 13 unforced errors).

Zverev was playing his sixth Grand Slam semi-final, but he only made it once, at the United States Open in 2020. He then lost in the final against Dominic Thiem.