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2023 French Open
ATP Tour
Semi-finals
Stade Roland Garros
Paris, France
Friday, 9 June 2023
No. 4 seed Casper Ruud will be bidding to reach the
French Open final for the second year running when he faces Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals on Friday, June 9.
The Norwegian contested the 2022 decider against Rafael Nadal but was no match for the Spaniard, who won 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to clinch a historic 22nd Grand Slam title.
Ruud once again experienced heartbreak when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the US Open final, while he also finished runner-up in the ATP Finals after being beaten 7-5, 6-3 by Novak Djokovic.
The world No. 4 only has one title to his name this year after winning the Estoril Open in April with a straight-sets victory over Miomir Kecmanovic, which is his single final appearance thus far.
Ruud was taken to five sets by the 23rd-seeded Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round and he saw off the challenge of No. 6 seed Holger Rune in the quarter-finals, winning 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
The 24-year-old expressed his relief at getting the better of Rune on this occasion, having lost to the Dane in the semi-finals of the Rome Open last month and feels his performances are improving.
"Very, very relieved. I came into this match just trying to play without pressure, but it's not easy. You're playing a big match," Ruud said.
"He played very aggressively. Luckily for me, the first two sets he wasn't probably feeling too well, he was making a lot of errors so I got a lot of points for free, so that helped settle the nerves.
"But he fought back, in the third set he was playing better. In the fourth set I was lucky to get that one break and keep it the way out. I was playing well. Holger, he fired off some double faults and gave me the break early.
"I think I did well. He was the favourite, he beat me last time, and he's had a better year than me so far. I was feeling the underdog here. He was hungry to reach the semi-final and I was looking to get back to the semi-final this year.
"Luckily it played out well for me. I think those three sets I won today was a very good level. I feel like the level is getting better."
Last five French Open winners
2022 - Rafael Nadal (ESP)
2021 - Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2020 - Rafael Nadal (ESP)
2019 - Rafael Nadal (ESP)
2018 - Rafael Nadal (ESP)
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