French Open 2023 semi-final result: Casper Ruud demolishes Alexander Zverev to set up final showdown Novak Djokovic
C. Ruud vs A. Zverev | Roland-Garros
Men's Singles | Semi-final | 09.06.2023 | Court Philippe-Chatrier
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C. Ruud (4)
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A. Zverev (22)
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Updated 09/06/2023 at 20:21 GMT+1
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MATCH REPORT: RAMPANT RUDE SETS DATE WITH DJOKER
Casper Ruud made it back-to-back French Open final appearances after cruising to a 6-3 6-4 6-0 win over Alexander Zverev.
Read our full report below.
20.18
GAME, SET AND MATCH! - RUUD 6-3 6-4 6-0 ZVEREV
Casper Ruud books his place in a second successive Roland Garros final as he demolishes No.22 seed Zverev in just two hours and nine minutes.
The Norwegian, who was just too solid throughout, serves it out on his second match point to set up a clash with two-time champion Novak Djokovic.
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Image credit: Getty Images
20.15
BREAK! - RUUD 6-3 6-4 5-0 ZVEREV
This one is done. Zverev looks to have given up the ghost as the No.4 seed fizzes off winner No.22 to break for a third time.
Ruud will now serve for a place in another RG final.
20.11
RUUD 6-3 6-4 4-0 ZVEREV
Ruud demonstrates how full of confidence he is with a devastating, wrong-footing forehand to back up a vicious, wide serve.
Zverev actually lands a couple of excellent winners off that flank himself and then cranks up some heat with a drive volley to make deuce.
However, the pattern of the match remains unaltered as Ruud solves the puzzle from there to back up the double break.
20.05
BREAK! - RUUD 6-3 6-4 3-0 ZVEREV
That’s bordering on a catastrophe for Sascha.
He works hard to turn a 15-30 predicament in his favour but can’t find the hold from deuce.
Ruud’s relentless pressure pays dividends as he snares a break point and the German implodes with a double fault.
The Norwegian has the double break and looks firmly on course for a Sunday showdown with Djokovic now.
19.57
RUUD 6-3 6-4 2-0 ZVEREV
It’s such clutch work from Casper once again.
The No.4 seed seems certain to cough up break points at 15-30 but somehow digs out a beauty of a backhand pass up the line.
His tactics on the ensuing pint are world class as he adjusts the height of two crosscourt backhands to force the short ball and race in to despatch a clinical forehand pass.
Zverev then angles a backhand just wide and Ruud effectively consolidates the break the long way around.
19.54
19.53
BREAK! - RUUD 6-3 6-4 1-0 ZVEREV
Oh dear, that’s not pretty.
Zverev moves in to attack a backhand drive volley but flashes it way long of the baseline to gift Ruud the perfect start in Set 3.
19.48
RUUD 6-3 6-4 ZVEREV
Ruud has been so solid today and he remains ice-cool here as he serves his way to a two-set lead via a game to 15.
The Norwegian is homing in on a return to the Roland Garros final.
19.42
RUUD 6-3 5-4 ZVEREV
The serve-out question is posed as a third ace and a trio of winners ease the No.22 seed to a quick-fire, clean hold.
19.41
ENJOY!
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Top 5 shots - Alcaraz and Djokovic produce outrageous tennis in semi-final
Video credit: TNT Sports
19.40
RUUD 6-3 5-3 ZVEREV
Once again Casper comes up with the right tactical shots in the key moments, lashing a tidy backhand up the line at 30-30 to wrestle the game his way and consolidate on the next point.
19.35
19.34
BREAK! - RUUD 6-3 4-3 ZVEREV
There’s a notable lull in Zverev and he pays the price!
The German fires off a trio of unforced errors but the break to love comes via a delicious pass off the Ruud forehand. That’s the shot that has been key so fat this evening.
19.30
RUUD 6-3 3-3 ZVEREV
Wow. That’s a sublime angle on a crosscourt backhand from Ruud and it’s a very satisfying way to put the full stop on a hold to 30.
It’s fair to say he’s been playing the big points better than Zverev so far.
19.29
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Inspired Ruud takes opening set against Zverev in semi-final
Video credit: TNT Sports
19.28
A REMINDER (AS IF YOU NEED IT) THAT DJOKOVIC AWAITS IN SUNDAY'S FINAL
19.25
RUUD 6-3 2-3 ZVEREV
Sascha follows Ruud’s pattern to some extent, hitting back from 0-30 to race through four points and nudge the board by finishing with just his second ace of the semi final.
19.21
RUUD 6-3 2-2 ZVEREV
What a hold!
Zverev raises the temperature with more bold tennis to lure a couple of surprising errors out of Ruud and earn triple break point.
The Norwegian battles hard to save two but looks set to lose the third until Zverev tries a bizarre, mid-court drop shot that he dumps straight into the net.
That’s all Ruud needs to seize the initiative with a series of trademarks forehands seeing him evade the break from deuce.
19.15
EXCITED FOR 24 HOURS OF LE MANS?