Ruud, last obstacle for Djokovic in the final
Casper Ruud represents the last obstacle for Novak Djokovic to rule alone in tennis history. The Norwegian will play his second consecutive Roland Garros final on Sunday after leaving yesterday without answers, in just 131 minutes, a downcast Alexander Zverev (6-3, 6-4, 6-0). With his usual resolute tennis on clay, much more practical than spectacular, the Norwegian today feels qualified to present against Nole, who no longer needs any motivation. The twenty-third major of his glorious career awaits him at Philippe Chatrier.
For Ruud, fourth classified in the ATP ranking, it was enough yesterday with the firmness of his serve to gain ground. His were 39 of the 55 points at stake with his first service (71%) and his was the initiative with the drive. Whenever he connected the serve, he was shaping up for his best shot, with which he was cornering Zverev. After a messy start, with two back and forth breaks in the second and third games, Ruud placed one of the pillars of his victory by raising a 0-40.
Just like in the quarterfinal against Holger Rune, Ruud decided to wait far behind in his remains, to quickly approach the bottom line until imposing his game. Although this season he has only lifted the title Despite the fact that his performance on clay has not offered spectacular results this year, with defeats in the round of 16 in Rome, Monte Carlo and Bastad, the truth is that the Norwegian offers the best of his repertoire in Paris.
On the contrary, Zverev, left the Central yesterday in a very different way than a year ago, when he knew how to push Rafa Nadal to the limit, also in the penultimate round. From that ovation from Central, while he was limping on his way to the locker room with his destroyed right ankle, to the logical disaffection for someone who had just conceded a 6-0. Again wrapped in that somewhat self-destructive aura, the German said goodbye to Paris with 37 unforced errors. For the third year in a row, he is one step away from fighting for the title.