Casper Ruud took quick revenge for a loss last month to fellow Scandinavian Holger Rune, with the Norwegian fourth seed pounding out a 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory on Wednesday to return to the French Open semi-finals
Ruud, runner-up a year ago to Rafael Nadal, went down to the Dane in a Rome semi- just over a fortnight ago.
He will square off on Friday for a place in his second consecutive final here against Alexander Zvererev, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Ruud improved to 5-1 over Rune, the seventh seed, and now stands 16-5 on clay this season after appearing in his third Grand Slam quarter-final after Roland Garros and the US Open last year.
His win in two and three-quarter hours was aided by nine double-faults from the 20-year-old Rune.
Zvererev has regained some confidence after his horror ankle injury at Roland Garros a year ago when he was taken off court in a wheelchair after rolling his ankle in a semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
After missing the second half of 2022, the former ATP No. 2 is rebuilding on the Tour and will play his third semi-final in a row in Paris.
He put over 45 winners against 44 unforced errors, breaking five times while losing his own three on three occasions.
Zverev needed to save two break points in the eighth game of the fourth set to hold for 5-3 and delivered the win two games later as his opponent sent a service return wide.
The battle which lasted for nearly three and a half hours was a tonic for Zverev, seeded 22nd as his injury comeback gains pace.
“There are still potentially two very difficult matches, I’m looking forward,” the winner said. “The tournament is not over.
“I’m happy to be here, but I know that hopefully I have two more matches ahead, and they’re not going to get easier.
” We’re in a semis, nothing more, nothing less.”
Zverev said that memories of his injury and the ensuing seven months of recovery are starting to fade.
“I’m at a stage now where I’m not thinking about the injury so much anymore. I’m not thinking about what happened.
“I’m just happy to be back where I was last year, and I have another chance. Hopefully I can take it.”
