Category: Casper Ruud

Tsitsipas beats Ruud to seal third Monte-Carlo Masters title

April 14, 2024

Stefanos Tsitsipas produced a statement return to form as he defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets to lift the Monte-Carlo Masters title for the third time in a sun-drenched battle of the clay-court specialists.

The Greek carried on his impressive run in the Principality this week to outgun his Norwegian opponent and triumph 6-1 6-4 in one hour and 36 minutes.

It sees Tsitsipas add to the back-to-back titles he won at this tournament from 2021-22 and also means he joins Rafael Nadal (11), Bjorn Borg (3), Thomas Muster (3) and Ilie Nastase (3) as the only players to have claimed 3+ Monte-Carlo titles in the Open Era.

The current world No. 12 will now rise back into the top 10 in the ATP rankings on Monday following an eight-week absence thanks to a landmark 100th tournament level win on the dirt.

In a clash between two expert exponents of clay-court tennis, it was perhaps fitting that the first 1000 tournament of the European swing pitted the two men to have chalked up the most victories on the surface on the ATP Tour since 2020 against each other.

It was Tsitsipas who settled the quicker at a venue where his imperious 19-3 career record imbued clear confidence. Indeed, he broke on his third opportunity from 0-40 with a crisp cross-court forehand before hitting clutch mode to fend off three break back points and clinch a 3-1 lead from deuce.

Ruud, who had shown great character and resilience to beat world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the last four, was strangely out of sorts and a simple crosscourt volley wide was followed by two surprising errors off his trademark forehand to allow the Greek to snare the double break.

The errors continued to flow off the Norwegian’s racquet and he glanced anxiously at his team before coughing up his serve for a third time, double-faulting on a second set point to drop a one-sided opener in just 36 minutes.

Ruud, who was looking to end his four-match losing streak in finals (2023 Roland-Garros, 2023 Bastad, 2024 Los Cabos and 2024 Acapulco) desperately needed a strong start to the second set, but could not take advantage of some early break point opportunities as Tsitispas’s big first serve and venomous forehand continued to fire.

The Greek’s majestic level appeared to dip briefly, but the Norwegian continued to let him off the hook and Tsitsipas maintained the scoreboard advantage with the help of some surprise serve and volley tactics.

The alarm bells were ringing for Ruud at 3-2 down as he allowed a 40-15 lead to slip away, but he scrubbed out a break point with a delicious stun drop volley before grinding out the hold from deuce.

It almost earned him a reward on the return in an epic seventh game but despite earning three more break points from a 40-0 deficit, Tsitsipas again delivered in the big moments, knifing away a wonderful volley to make it eight out of eight break points saved.

It was this resistance coupled with a tally of 23 winners that paved the way for Tsitsipas to break again on his first match point and claim his first winner’s trophy since Los Cabos last year and the 11th ATP title of his career.

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‘Not a great season’ – Djokovic reacts to Monte Carlo loss, as Ruud says ‘he’s human’

April 13, 2024
Novak Djokovic tasted defeat yet again in 2024, losing in the Monte Carlo semi-finals to Casper Ruud to leave the world No. 1 labelling his year so far as “not a great season at all”.

It is an unusual position for the Serbian great to find himself in, such is the “high standard” he sets for himself – with Ruud managing to beat Djokovic for the first time in six attempts.

Djokovic lost to Alex de Minaur in the United Cup – his chosen Australian Open warm-up event – and to Jannik Sinner in Melbourne, before being beaten by Luca Nardi in Indian Wells. Add in the defeat to Ruud, and it is clear this season is not shaping up how Djokovic might have hoped.

Mitigating circumstances do exist – this was Djokovic’s first tournament of the year on clay, while Ruud has already played in Estoril and thus was perhaps better prepared for the conditions in Monaco. Those conditions varied hugely too, with rain and unseasonably cooler weather for the players to contend with over the first few days, before the sun came out and conditions quickened.

“I’m used to really high standard in terms of expectations of the results, so not having a title is, maybe comparing to the last 15 years, not a great season at all,” Djokovic said.

“But I had semis of Australia, semis here. I only played three tournaments this year, so of course, you know, it’s normal to expect that you have some seasons where you don’t start well, and this is the one.

“Hopefully, yeah, I can pick up, in terms of results, I can build from here, because, you know, I played some good tennis. Hopefully in the next tournaments I’ll be able to play even better.”

This is not Djokovic’s worst start to a season – far from it. In 2018 he did not win a title until Wimbledon and did not make a single final on the hard or clay courts in the opening part of the season.

But given how much is expected of the 24-time major winner, his lacklustre start to the campaign has been noted by many, not least the way he lost in Monte Carlo – with a double fault on match point.

“Of course, I’m disappointed, you know, to lose a match like this,” Djokovic said of his semi-final defeat.

“I had my chances, but yeah, last game was not great. Unforced errors and just he was solid I think until the last shot and deserved to win. My game was kind of up and down.

“I mean, the positive thing is that I kind of managed to come back after losing the first set and really find the strength in the game. So, there are positives to take away from this tournament, for sure, but of course disappointed with the loss.”

As for Ruud, he is a proven performer on the dirt courts so to see him make his first final in Monaco is not unexpected, but it did surprise a few given his prior record against Djokovic.

“Obviously Novak is Novak,” Ruud said. “He’s human. Sometimes he doesn’t seem like it, but he is like everyone else.

“I think what really motivated me and helped me a bit today was maybe that I thought about, you know, he lost a match in Indian Wells to Luca Nardi, and he showed there that he’s also vulnerable sometimes. Not many times in a year, but a few days here and there he’s possible to beat.

“If you see that someone has done really well in the beginning of the year, it’s tough to play them, because you’re expecting, wow, this guy is almost impossible to beat. But if you see that many or other players have beaten him before, you believe a bit more in yourself also.”

picture

Casper Ruud, Monte Carlo 2024

Image credit: Getty Images

With the rise of Sinner, the hype surrounding Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune playing exciting tennis and Grigor Dimitrov rolling back the years, there is plenty of talent on show on the men’s tour at the moment, but Ruud maintains Djokovic sets the standard.

Ruud said: “In my eyes, [Djokovic is] of the all-time players to try to beat. Today I was able to do it. Something I can remember for the rest of my life and tell hopefully my kids in the future and my grandkids when I’m getting old that, you know, I beat Novak one time at least.

“No one knows how long he plans to play for, but obviously he’s getting older, but he’s still physically in good shape and playing fantastic tennis. But it’s always fun to play against him, because, you know, it’s one of the toughest challenges in our sport.”

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‘In a state of shock’ – Ruud upsets Djokovic to make Monte Carlo final for first time

April 13, 2024

On a day of upsets in the Principality, Casper Ruud beat Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters to make the final for the first time.

He beat the world No. 1 6-4 1-6 6-4, with Djokovic serving a double fault at match-point down to gift his opponent the crucial break and the victory.

The last point might have been a donation but the match as a whole was not, with Ruud playing some exceptional tennis as he kept the pressure on Djokovic in the crucial moments, not letting his opponent settle on a hot and sultry day in Monte Carlo.

“Tomorrow is going to be a special day, first time playing in a final in Monte Carlo, I’ll give it my all. Stef is playing well, he’s a great player on clay – clay is where he’s had the most success, but I’m up for it,” said Ruud.

Ruud and Djokovic had last met in the final of Roland-Garros last season, the Serbian running out a straight-sets winner that day. Not helping Ruud’s case on paper ahead of their semi-final was the fact that as well as Djokovic leading their head-to-head 5-0, the Norwegian had never taken a set off the world No. 1 in any encounter.

Despite that worrying record, it was Ruud who started the brighter, breaking Djokovic in the first game. The Norwegian world No. 10 was troubling Djokovic with the accuracy of his groundstrokes, with the error count mounting for the Serbian.

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Novak Djokovic

Image credit: Getty Images

Ruud served for a 5-1 lead after breaking a second time, the crowd sensing a second upset of the day following Tsitsipas’ victory over Sinner earlier on. But Djokovic seemed to steady himself and broke straight back, as his forehand began to find its mark. Holding again, Djokovic forced Ruud to serve it out.

Serving it out is what Ruud did with no sign of any nerves to take his first set against Djokovic 6-4. 16 unforced errors – most coming from the forehand side – doing the damage for Djokovic.

Ruud knew a response would be incoming. Djokovic held and then broke at the start of the second set to lead 3-0.

The second set flew by with Djokovic taking it 6-1, his forehand doing the damage as Ruud looked powerless from the back of the court, unable to deal with the angles his opponent was creating from seemingly nowhere.

Ruud regrouped at the change of ends, coming out and breaking Djokovic first up at the start of the deciding set – although he had a helping hand from his opponent, who threw in five unforced errors in the opening two games.

It was the out-of-sorts Djokovic from the opening set who had made a late reappearance, the Serbian looking tired as he tried to fight back from 3-0 down. Even his impressive returns started to go missing, with Ruud looking unflappable at the other end of the court.

Somehow with Ruud leading 4-2, Djokovic managed to string together not just some winners, but some momentum as he broke back – raising a fist in the air as the crowd took to their feet such was the quality on show after some error-strewn games.

With Ruud’s serving looking solid, he took a 5-4 lead to leave Djokovic serving to stay in the match, and the Serbian player threw in a double fault at match-point down to gift Ruud an incredible victory in Monaco, and a first over his opponent.

“Just super happy, this is a day I will remember for a really long time – beating a world No. 1 is something I’ve never done, beating Novak is something I’ve never done,” Ruud said. “I’m just a little bit in a state of shock, I just didn’t want to let it slip away.

“When he missed the first serve, he’s saved so many break points in these moments with a huge second serve and I thought let it be a double fault. For me, it was nice to see that ball slip away.”

Ruud does not have long to recover from the “shock” of his victory as he will take on Tsitsipas on Sunday for the title. The duo have met this year, with Ruud a straight-sets winner in Los Cabos. They have not met on clay since 2021, when Ruud won in Madrid.

As for the defeated Djokovic and Sinner, the top two seeds have some thinking to do ahead of the continuation of one of the most open and hotly anticipated clay-court swings in recent memory.

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‘Tennis at its highest level’ – Tsitsipas downs Sinner to reach another Monte-Carlo final

April 13, 2024

Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Jannik Sinner 6-4 3-6 6-4 in their semi-final on Saturday to reach his third Monte-Carlo Masters final in the last four years.

Tsitsipas took the first set 6-4 and the Greek was relying on a powerful serve much more than his opponent.

Sinner came into the encounter as the only Grand Slam winner of the year so far, with both players preparing for the next Slam, at Roland-Garros in Paris next month.

Tsitsipas has said he is keen to break back into the top 10 after an indifferent 2023, while for Sinner the task is to demonstrate that he is now one of the sport’s most consistent players.

The 22-year-old Italian hit back in the second set when he claimed it 6-3 to level at one set apiece to set up a decisive third.

Sinner then broke his rival and held his serve to move 4-2 clear in the third set, needing to hold his serve – and his nerve – to clinch a place in the final to play the winner of the day’s other semi-final, between world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud.

Tsitsipas took Sinner to break point as he tried to get back to parity with the margin for error dwindling, but Sinner battled back to deuce three times before ultimately failing to hold on.

Buoyed by his resilience, Tsitsipas did not look back and forced through two games in quick succession to wrap up victory.

“It was tennis at its highest level that I have been able to play. Jannik was an extremely difficult opponent and it can be seen throughout the year so far. He has been very consistent and I could see that throughout today with his game,” Tsitsipas said after his win.

“He is one of the toughest opponents I have faced so far and to find ways when there weren’t that many, I am proud of that. He gave me a very difficult game and [the] way I overcame it is true excellence.”

The victory gives him the chance to earn his third title at the tournament after winning back in 2021 and 2022, and he now sits at No. 9 in the live rankings.

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Djokovic records 1000th career win against Ruud to set up Tsitsipas final in Rome

May 14, 2022

Novak Djokovic recorded his 1000th career win with a convincing 6-4 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud to reach the Italian Open final.

Djokovic dominated from the baseline against the Norwegian fifth seed in their fourth meeting on the ATP Tour and wrapped up the win in one hour and 41 minutes.

The world No. 1, who becomes the fifth man in the open era to earn 1000 wins, will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final after the Greek beat world No.3 Alexander Zverev in three sets earlier on Saturday.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

A DAY AGO

“I thought I played really well in the last four games of the match,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in his on-court interview. “Hopefully I can take that level into tomorrow’s final.

“Thanks to the tournament and the crowd for celebrating the milestone [1000 wins] with me.

“I was seeing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal celebrating also those milestones in the last couple of years and I was looking to get to that 1000 myself. I’m really blessed and privileged to have that many victories on the tour.

“It’s been a long time since I won my first match on the tour. Hopefully I can keep going and that there will be many more victories to come.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final against Tsitsipas, Djokovic said: “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he has been the top two, three clay-court players, always reaching final stages in the biggest events on clay so I know tough matches are expected of me.

“I think two years ago we played a really long, two day quarter-final [at the French Open] and I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

Ruud dropped his serve only once in his opening three matches of this tournament, but Djokovic broke him twice in 15 minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Djokovic continued to dominate the baseline exchanges, but after a temporary delay where a fire alarm went off in the stadium, Ruud was able to claw a break back to make it 5-3.

It mattered little, though, as Djokovic – spurred on by a time violation given by umpire Richard Haigh – closed out the set on his serve in 55 minutes. Djokovic gestured to the crowd to turn up the volume with the audience split between Ruud and the world No. 1.

With Djokovic trailing 2-1 in the second set the fire alarm went off again, but it did little to derail the Serb’s focus. The pair slugged it out from the baseline without conceding even a break point to each other.

That was until the seventh game when Djokovic ramped up the pressure. Ruud saved three break points with some smart shot selections, but Djokovic pounced on the fourth and let out a primal scream when the Norwegian crumbled on his backhand.

Djokovic cemented his place in the final on the Ruud serve, finishing off with a bruising forehand winner.

– – –

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Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

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Djokovic records 1000th career win against Ruud to set up Tsitsipas final in Rome

May 14, 2022

Novak Djokovic recorded his 1000th career win with a convincing 6-4 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud to reach the Italian Open final.

Djokovic dominated from the baseline against the Norwegian fifth seed in their fourth meeting on the ATP Tour and wrapped up the win in one hour and 41 minutes.

The world No. 1, who becomes the fifth man in the Open era to earn 1000 wins, will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final after the Greek beat world No.3 Alexander Zverev in three sets earlier on Saturday.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

A DAY AGO

“I thought I played really well in the last four games of the match,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in his on-court interview. “Hopefully I can take that level into tomorrow’s final.

“Thanks to the tournament and the crowd for celebrating the milestone [1000 wins] with me.

“I was seeing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal celebrating also those milestones in the last couple of years and I was looking to get to that 1000 myself. I’m really blessed and privileged to have that many victories on the tour.

“It’s been a long time since I won my first match on the tour. Hopefully I can keep going and that there will be many more victories to come.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final against Tsitsipas, Djokovic said: “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he has been the top two, three clay-court players, always reaching final stages in the biggest events on clay so I know tough matches are expected of me.

“I think two years ago we played a really long, two day quarter-final [at the French Open] and I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

Ruud dropped his serve only once in his opening three matches of this tournament, but Djokovic broke him twice in 15 minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Djokovic continued to dominate the baseline exchanges, but after a temporary delay where a fire alarm went off in the stadium, Ruud was able to claw a break back to make it 5-3.

It mattered little, though, as Djokovic – spurred on by a time violation given by umpire Richard Haigh – closed out the set on his serve in 55 minutes. Djokovic gestured to the crowd to turn up the volume with the audience split between Ruud and the world No. 1.

With Djokovic trailing 2-1 in the second set the fire alarm went off again, but it did little to derail the Serb’s focus. The pair slugged it out from the baseline without conceding even a break point to each other.

That was until the seventh game when Djokovic ramped up the pressure. Ruud saved three break points with some smart shot selections, but Djokovic pounced on the fourth and let out a primal scream when the Norwegian crumbled on his backhand.

Djokovic cemented his place in the final on the Ruud serve, finishing off with a bruising forehand winner.

– – –

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YESTERDAY AT 09:10

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Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

YESTERDAY AT 21:43

Djokovic records 1000th career win against Ruud to set up Tsitsipas final in Rome

May 14, 2022

Novak Djokovic recorded his 1000th career win with a convincing 6-4 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud to reach the Italian Open final.

Djokovic dominated from the baseline against the Norwegian fifth seed in their fourth meeting on the ATP Tour and wrapped up the milestone win in one hour and 41 minutes.

The world No. 1, who becomes the fifth man in the Open era to earn 1000 wins, will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final after the Greek beat world No.3 Alexander Zverev in three sets earlier on Saturday.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

YESTERDAY AT 21:44

The 34-year-old joins Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in reaching the 1000 win landmark.

“I thought I played really well in the last four games of the match,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in his on-court interview. “Hopefully I can take that level into tomorrow’s final.

“Thanks to the tournament and the crowd for celebrating the milestone [1000 wins] with me.

“I was seeing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal celebrating also those milestones in the last couple of years and I was looking to get to that 1000 myself. I’m really blessed and privileged to have that many victories on the tour.

“It’s been a long time since I won my first match on the tour. Hopefully I can keep going and that there will be many more victories to come.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final against Tsitsipas, Djokovic said: “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he has been the top two, three clay-court players, always reaching final stages in the biggest events on clay so I know tough matches are expected of me.

“I think two years ago we played a really long, two day quarter-final [at the French Open] and I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

Ruud dropped his serve only once in his opening three matches of this tournament, but Djokovic broke him twice in 15 minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Djokovic continued to dominate the baseline exchanges, but after a temporary delay where a fire alarm went off in the stadium, Ruud was able to claw a break back to make it 5-3.

It mattered little, though, as Djokovic – spurred on by a time violation given by umpire Richard Haigh – closed out the set on his serve in 55 minutes. Djokovic gestured to the crowd to turn up the volume with the audience split between Ruud and the world No. 1.

With Djokovic trailing 2-1 in the second set the fire alarm went off again, but it did little to derail the Serb’s focus. The pair slugged it out from the baseline without conceding even a break point to each other.

That was until the seventh game when Djokovic ramped up the pressure. Ruud saved three break points with some smart shot selections, but Djokovic pounced on the fourth and let out a primal scream when the Norwegian crumbled on his backhand.

Djokovic cemented his place in the final on the Ruud serve, finishing off with a bruising forehand winner.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

YESTERDAY AT 09:10

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Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

12/05/2022 AT 21:43

Djokovic records 1000th career win against Ruud to set up Tsitsipas final in Rome

May 14, 2022

Novak Djokovic recorded his 1000th career win with a convincing 6-4 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud to reach the Italian Open final.

Djokovic dominated from the baseline against the Norwegian fifth seed in their fourth meeting on the ATP Tour and wrapped up the milestone win in one hour and 41 minutes.

The world No. 1, who becomes the fifth man in the Open era to earn 1000 wins, will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final after the Greek beat world No.3 Alexander Zverev in three sets earlier on Saturday.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

YESTERDAY AT 21:44

The 34-year-old joins Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in reaching the 1000 win landmark.

“I thought I played really well in the last four games of the match,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in his on-court interview. “Hopefully I can take that level into tomorrow’s final.

“Thanks to the tournament and the crowd for celebrating the milestone [1000 wins] with me.

“I was seeing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal celebrating also those milestones in the last couple of years and I was looking to get to that 1000 myself. I’m really blessed and privileged to have that many victories on the tour.

“It’s been a long time since I won my first match on the tour. Hopefully I can keep going and that there will be many more victories to come.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final against Tsitsipas, Djokovic said: “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he has been the top two, three clay-court players, always reaching final stages in the biggest events on clay so I know tough matches are expected of me.

“I think two years ago we played a really long, two day quarter-final [at the French Open] and I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

Ruud dropped his serve only once in his opening three matches of this tournament, but Djokovic broke him twice in 15 minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Djokovic continued to dominate the baseline exchanges, but after a temporary delay where a fire alarm went off in the stadium, Ruud was able to claw a break back to make it 5-3.

It mattered little, though, as Djokovic – spurred on by a time violation given by umpire Richard Haigh – closed out the set on his serve in 55 minutes. Djokovic gestured to the crowd to turn up the volume with the audience split between Ruud and the world No. 1.

With Djokovic trailing 2-1 in the second set the fire alarm went off again, but it did little to derail the Serb’s focus. The pair slugged it out from the baseline without conceding even a break point to each other.

That was until the seventh game when Djokovic ramped up the pressure. Ruud saved three break points with some smart shot selections, but Djokovic pounced on the fourth and let out a primal scream when the Norwegian crumbled on his backhand.

Djokovic cemented his place in the final on the Ruud serve, finishing off with a bruising forehand winner.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

YESTERDAY AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

12/05/2022 AT 21:43

Djokovic records 1000th career win against Ruud to set up Tsitsipas final in Rome

May 14, 2022

Novak Djokovic recorded his 1000th career win with a convincing 6-4 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud to reach the Italian Open final.

Djokovic dominated from the baseline against the Norwegian fifth seed in their fourth meeting on the ATP Tour and wrapped up the milestone win in one hour and 41 minutes.

The world No. 1, who becomes the fifth man in the Open era to earn 1000 wins, will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final after the Greek beat world No.3 Alexander Zverev in three sets earlier on Saturday.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

YESTERDAY AT 21:44

The 34-year-old joins Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in reaching the 1000 win landmark.

“I thought I played really well in the last four games of the match,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in his on-court interview. “Hopefully I can take that level into tomorrow’s final.

“Thanks to the tournament and the crowd for celebrating the milestone [1000 wins] with me.

“I was seeing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal celebrating also those milestones in the last couple of years and I was looking to get to that 1000 myself. I’m really blessed and privileged to have that many victories on the tour.

“It’s been a long time since I won my first match on the tour. Hopefully I can keep going and that there will be many more victories to come.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final against Tsitsipas, Djokovic said: “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he has been the top two, three clay-court players, always reaching final stages in the biggest events on clay so I know tough matches are expected of me.

“I think two years ago we played a really long, two day quarter-final [at the French Open] and I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

Ruud dropped his serve only once in his opening three matches of this tournament, but Djokovic broke him twice in 15 minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Djokovic continued to dominate the baseline exchanges, but after a temporary delay where a fire alarm went off in the stadium, Ruud was able to claw a break back to make it 5-3.

It mattered little, though, as Djokovic – spurred on by a time violation given by umpire Richard Haigh – closed out the set on his serve in 55 minutes. Djokovic gestured to the crowd to turn up the volume with the audience split between Ruud and the world No. 1.

With Djokovic trailing 2-1 in the second set the fire alarm went off again, but it did little to derail the Serb’s focus. The pair slugged it out from the baseline without conceding even a break point to each other.

That was until the seventh game when Djokovic ramped up the pressure. Ruud saved three break points with some smart shot selections, but Djokovic pounced on the fourth and let out a primal scream when the Norwegian crumbled on his backhand.

Djokovic cemented his place in the final on the Ruud serve, finishing off with a bruising forehand winner.

– – –

Stream the 2022 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Roland-Garros

When is 2022 French Open? When is the draw? What’s the schedule?

YESTERDAY AT 09:10

WTA Rome

Swiatek stumbles over Nadal quiz, Ruud wants Alcaraz revenge – Rome Diary

12/05/2022 AT 21:43

Djokovic records 1000th career win against Ruud to set up Tsitsipas final in Rome

May 14, 2022

Novak Djokovic recorded his 1000th career win with a convincing 6-4 6-3 victory over Casper Ruud to reach the Italian Open final.

Djokovic dominated from the baseline against the Norwegian fifth seed in their fourth meeting on the ATP Tour and wrapped up the milestone win in one hour and 41 minutes.

The world No. 1, who becomes the fifth man in the Open era to earn 1000 wins, will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final after the Greek beat world No.3 Alexander Zverev in three sets earlier on Saturday.

ATP Rome

Djokovic seals 999th career win in clay classic against FAA, Tsitsipas to play Zverev

YESTERDAY AT 21:44

The 34-year-old joins Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in reaching the 1000 win landmark.

“I thought I played really well in the last four games of the match,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in his on-court interview. “Hopefully I can take that level into tomorrow’s final.

“Thanks to the tournament and the crowd for celebrating the milestone [1000 wins] with me.

“I was seeing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal celebrating also those milestones in the last couple of years and I was looking to get to that 1000 myself. I’m really blessed and privileged to have that many victories on the tour.

“It’s been a long time since I won my first match on the tour. Hopefully I can keep going and that there will be many more victories to come.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s final against Tsitsipas, Djokovic said: “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he has been the top two, three clay-court players, always reaching final stages in the biggest events on clay so I know tough matches are expected of me.

“I think two years ago we played a really long, two day quarter-final [at the French Open] and I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it.”

Ruud dropped his serve only once in his opening three matches of this tournament, but Djokovic broke him twice in 15 minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Djokovic continued to dominate the baseline exchanges, but after a temporary delay where a fire alarm went off in the stadium, Ruud was able to claw a break back to make it 5-3.

It mattered little, though, as Djokovic – spurred on by a time violation given by umpire Richard Haigh – closed out the set on his serve in 55 minutes. Djokovic gestured to the crowd to turn up the volume with the audience split between Ruud and the world No. 1.

With Djokovic trailing 2-1 in the second set the fire alarm went off again, but it did little to derail the Serb’s focus. The pair slugged it out from the baseline without conceding even a break point to each other.

That was until the seventh game when Djokovic ramped up the pressure. Ruud saved three break points with some smart shot selections, but Djokovic pounced on the fourth and let out a primal scream when the Norwegian crumbled on his backhand.

Djokovic cemented his place in the final on the Ruud serve, finishing off with a bruising forehand winner.

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