French Open 2024 semi-final result: Alexander Zverev defeats two-time finalist Casper Ruud on Court Philippe-Chatrier following Carlos Alcaraz's epic win over Jannik Sinner
C. Ruud vs A. Zverev | Roland-Garros
Men's Singles | Semi-final | 07.06.2024 | Court Philippe-Chatrier
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Completed
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C. Ruud (7)
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A. Zverev (4)
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Updated 07/06/2024 at 20:08 GMT
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21:07
GAME, SET AND MATCH! – ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 6-2 RUUD
It’s fourth time the charm for Sascha Zverev!
The German finally overcomes the hurdle of the RG semi-finals to reach his second major final.
It comes four years on from his maiden appearance in a Grand Slam final when he suffered a heartbreaking defeat from two sets up against Dominic Thiem at the US Open.
The 27-year-old served it out to 15 in two hours and 34 minutes to become only the second German man to book a spot in the RG final since Michael Stich back in 1996.
The No.4 seed will now meet Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Sunday with both players bidding for a first Roland-Garros title.
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Image credit: Getty Images
21:02
BREAK! - ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 5-2 RUUD
That should be that.
Ruud sees a 30-0 lead flitter away as he fizzes a forehand long after Zverev earned a clap off the Norwegian for an around the post return winner down the line.
The German then seals the double break with a more routine belter of a backhand down line and it’s all about the finishing touches from here.
20:58
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 4-2 RUUD
Another Zverev ace is greeted by warm applause as he files away another hold to 15 with the minimum of fuss.
The crowd aren’t too engaged here as the sense of jeopardy is gone.
It seems more of a case of when rather than if he can complete the job.
20:55
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 3-2 RUUD
You have to admire the mentality and ability to come up clutch under major pressure from Ruud.
He’s not well but still manages to find the clarity of thought for a wrong-footing drop shot, while a timely ace, service winner and plus-one keep the points short to help him dig out another hold from 15-30 down.
20:51
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 3-1 RUUD
Zverev has a forehand malfunction and a dispute over a line call as 30-0 threatens to turn ugly at 30-30.
That trusty serve comes to the rescue with a wide ace before a brilliant pass to block a rasping return crosscourt and stay firmly at the wheel.
20:46
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 2-1 RUUD
Ruud attempts to stay competitive, pulling off a 1-2 punch and a much-needed service winner to finish a game to 15 with a rare winner off a rally at this stage.
20:45
CARLOS ALCARAZ AWAITS TONIGHT'S WINNER IN SUNDAY'S FINAL
It's is going to take something special for Zverev to miss out on his second major final from here.
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Alcaraz ‘proved to himself he can suffer & fight' in Sinner win, says Corretja
20:41
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 2-0 RUUD
Ruud has no answer and it’s Zverev’s to lose as he backs up the break to love against an opponent who is clearly suffering and in discomfort.
20:39
BREAK! - ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 1-0 RUUD
These are big moments for Casper Ruud and his RG 2024 hopes.
The Norwegian disappeared off court between sets to try and reset and somehow brush off the illness.
On Eurosport Comms, Henman notes the No.7 seed’s first serve speed continues to fall and it’s all too easy for Zverev who plays solid, consistent side-to-side tennis to secure the instant break.
20:29
SET! - ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 6-4 RUUD
Never underestimate the stress that comes with a player looking to serve a set or match out.
Zverev demonstrates the pressure right here as the procession on serve ends abruptly.
He starts with two aces but unravels badly with a wild backhand and back-to-back double faults offering up break back point.
A service winner arrests the wobble just in time and he nails another along with a third ace of the game.
It’s a bit of an internal rollercoaster right there, but in the end he moves to within a set of Sunday’s final.
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Image credit: Getty Images
20:24
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 5-4 RUUD
Casper throws in an intelligent serve and volley and is grateful for a couple of donations from Zverev pulling the trigger to dart through a game to 15.
The No.4 seed will now serve for the set.
20:21
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 5-3 RUUD
The spotlight is on Ruud now and the close-ups on the Norwegian suggest all is not well.
The No.7 seed seems dazed between points, hunching down to his knees at times.
Zverev tries not to get distracted and the love hold is sealed by the now obligatory ace.
20:18
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 4-3 RUUD
Ruud attempts to keep the points pretty short and it leads to an aggressive, proactive approach that overwhelms Zverev and keeps him in touch via a hold to 15.
20:16
VIDEO: A RARE MOMENT OF SUCCESS FOR A STRUGGLING RUUD
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‘Goodness’ – Ruud constructs two masterful points to seal game against Zverev
20:13
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 4-2 RUUD
A pair of aces down the T takes Zverev’s tally to 10 for the evening and it’s all too easy as more hefty serving ensures he consolidates to 15.
Ruud looked to be in pain as he stretched for that final delivery and he’s had no answer since the opener with the German No.4 seed winning 27 of the last 31 points on his own serve.
20:10
BREAK! - ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 3-2 RUUD
On Eurosport Comms, Henman salutes Zverev as he makes his move, doubling down in the rallies and refusing to give an ailing Ruud any cheap points.
The German tees up triple break point with that trademark backhand down the line and then converts on the second with a crisp crosscourt forehand after Ruud was dragged out wide to his left.
20:07
VIDEO: ON-FIRE ZVEREV MISSES ONE OF THE WORST VOLLEYS OF THE DAY
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'A shocker... that missed the doubles court!' - Zverev thuds presentable volley wide of mark
20:05
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 2-2 RUUD
Has Zverev been replaced by a towering Ball Feeder machine?
It’s just relentlessly impressive serving as the German’s Mojo flows freely throughout another clean hold.
20:02
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 1-2 RUUD
It’s an onslaught off both flanks from the reigning Olympic champion but he thinks he’s blown an opportunity to squeeze the vice when he drifts a forehand wide from mid-court.
Ruud pockets the gift and assumes control at 40-15 with a clinical backhand S+V and a timely service winner.
The Norwegian nets on the next two points and then drills a backhand into the tramlines to offer up the first BP of the third.
Zverev has the game on his racquet but fizzes a forehand long and then somehow claws back two humongous forehands from Ruud, only to be undone by the most nonchalant of improvised drop shots.
This is all played out while Ruud calls for the trainer between points saying he has a stomach ache.
It doesn’t stop the Norwegian from pulling off a clutch hold though as he back pedals into his left wing and bunts another improvised inside-in forehand winner down the line.
19:54
ZVEREV 2-6 6-2 1-1 RUUD
It’s been plain-sailing on the Zverev serve pretty much since the sun disappeared in that first set and the theme continues here.
The German lashes down a seventh ace and rushes through a hold to love to level.