Beat legend – Ruud booked dream final in the French Open
Casper Ruud – Marin Cilic: 3-1 (3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2)
Before this year’s French Open started several weeks ago, Casper Ruud’s best Grand Slam result was a fourth round in the Australian Open from last year – now he is ready for the final of the French Open, also known as Roland Garros, named after France’s Red Baron.
The performance is even more special by Sunday’s final opponent is Rafael Nadal himself. The Spaniard, who happened to have a birthday on Friday, was ready for his 14th French Open final earlier in the day after opponent Alexander Zverev stepped over and had to retire at the end of the second set – by then the match had already lasted three hours.
Divine intervention
Casper Ruud has already managed to meet Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the tennis court. The most special of the Big Three who have dominated tennis to the degree of the last two decades, Rafael Nadal, Ruud has still not met on the court.
On the other hand, it has been close on several occasions, such as last year during the Monte Carlo Masters when Ruud waited for Nadal in the semifinals, but instead ended up with Andrey Rublev – pole out for the dream meeting.
The chance arose again during this year’s Roma Masters when Ruud waited for Nadal in the quarterfinals, but ended up with Denis Shapovalov who in a ‘suspicious’ way knocked out Nadal and spoiled the dream meeting again.
Superstition prevailed – did the tennis gods have a bigger razor for Ruud and Nadal?
The answer came on Friday. Rafael Nadal has only lost three matches in the French Open since making his debut and winning the French Open at the age of 19 in 2005. The Spaniard has been in the final 13 times and won the tournament 13 times. No other player has dominated a tournament and a base more than Nadal.
Dramatic Friday in Paris
For the dream final to be a reality, Rafael Nadal first had to beat Alexander Zverev in the first semi-final played before Ruud-Cilic. Nadal won the first set on tie-break after 93 minutes of play.
When the second set also went to tie-break after another 90 minutes, Zverev stepped over and had to throw in the towel. An epic match that could last for 5-6 hours was thus interrupted in the worst possible way.
Extinguished the Croatian flame
Casper Ruud’s semi-final opponent Marin Cilic has been ranked as high as number three in the world and is one of the few who has managed to win a Grand Slam (US Open, 2014) in an era dominated by the Big Three.
33 years has won a total of 20 ATP titles and been in the finals of both Wimbledon (2017) and the Australian Open (2018). Both times were beaten by Roger Federer who in 2018 took his 20th and final Grand Slam title.
In recent years, Marin Cilic has been a falling star on the ATP tour and arrived in Paris as number 23 in the world. In Paris, he was not expected to go far, but in recent weeks has undergone a personal renaissance and delivered a new top level.
The Croats beat i.a. world number two Daniil Medvedev and number seven in the world, Andrey Rublev.
Against 23-year-old Casper Ruud from Snarøya, number eight in the world rankings – the Croatian, on the other hand, was completely neutralized.
New demonstration of mental strength
It did not look like that from the start. The first set was a Norwegian cold shower served by a Croatian who found the rhythm and was ravaged by his serve and backhand.
Ruud had his chances and worked out three break-balls against the Croatian without completing the break. Cilic, on the other hand, broke Ruud twice and took the first set 6-3.
But Ruud was not outplayed at all. Instead, he did what has become a habit; The Norwegian turns adversity into progress with the help of a mental strength that is absolutely necessary to become a great tennis player – not least on the biggest occasions, such as the final rounds of the Grand Slams.
In short: Ruud wins the next three sets by breaking Marin Cilic’s super-serve a total of five times without even being broken a single time.
Three sets in 177 minutes: 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
No coincidence
Thus, the Norwegian sensation in Paris reached a new level. The stated goal from Team Ruud ahead of the tournament was a place in the quarterfinals, ie a place among the last eight, which would have been entirely on since Ruud is ranked number eight in the world.
Now the Snarøya man is among the last two. Ruud and Rafa Nadal remain. It is no coincidence. Ruud’s time has long been announced. The last two years have been the player on the ATP tour with the most victories on the gravel.
Last year, he won three titles in three weeks, an achievement that was achieved in 2011 by former world number one Andy Murray.
Ruud has already managed to win eight ATP titles and made his debut earlier this year in his first Masters final.
Now he is in his first Grand Slam final.
Activist stormed the pitch
During Ruud’s turnaround operation, the game was interrupted by a female spectator who stormed the pitch and quickly linked herself online. Full confusion arose when the management was unsure of what the intention was.
After a short break, it became clear that this was a passive climate activist. The woman was removed and play resumed.
New heights
Casper Ruud climbs to sixth place in the world rankings on Monday regardless of whether he beats Rafael Nadal or not. Due to the French Open being played a week later last year, last year’s results will stand one extra week, which is due to Ruud being able to climb to fourth or fifth place already the following week.
Ruud is guaranteed 1200 ranking points, twice as much as the previous record of 600 points from the final loss in Miami earlier this year. The Norwegian is also guaranteed around 11 million kroner, an amount that can be doubled if he beats the best tennis player of all time on Sunday.
All photos: Discovery +.