You may not remember it, but Alexander Zverev vs. Casper Ruud was also a semifinal matchup at last year’s French Open.
It was the forgotten semifinal in 2023 and it will once again be the overlooked semifinal in 2024. Twelve months ago it took a backseat to Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz; this time around it is second fiddle to Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner.
Nonetheless, it should be a good one. Both players have been awesome on clay this spring and really on all surfaces this entire season. Zverev is 33-9 with a title in Rome, semifinal showings at the Australian Open and Miami Masters, and a quarterfinal performance in Indian Wells. Ruud is 39-9 with titles in Barcelona and Geneva, runner-up finishes in Los Cabos, Acapulco, and Monte-Carlo, and a quarterfinal run in Indian Wells.
Neither man has slowed down in Paris and nobody’s fortnight has been more eventful than Zverev’s. The fourth-ranked German drew Rafael Nadal in the opening round and beat the 14-time champion in straight sets. He parlayed that into wins over David Goffin, Tallon Griekspoor (from two breaks down in the fifth), Holger Rune (five sets), and Alex de Minaur. Ruud earned his spot in the semis by defeating Felipe Meligeni Alves, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (in five sets), Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Taylor Fritz. The world No. 7 then got a walkover from Novak Djokovic.
The head-to-head series is all tied up (just like Sinner vs. Alcaraz). Zverev and Ruud have split their four previous encounters at two wins apiece, but there is one result that stands out above the rest. The Norwegian rolled 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in their 2023 French Open semifinal tilt.
Zverev has improved since then, now two full years removed from his 2022 ankle injury. But is it enough to completely turn the tide? Maybe not–especially given the difficulty of his recent matches whereas Ruud has not played since Monday. It is Ruud who will have the edge physically–and perhaps mentally, too. After all, he destroyed this same opponent a year ago in this same spot and the pressure is all on Zverev as one of the pre-tournament favorites who has already lost in the Roland Garros semis three times without ever making it to the final.
Ruud has been to the final each of the past two seasons and looks poised to make it three in a row.
Pick: Ruud in 5
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WWW?
If Zverev plays like 2022 I’d back him . But otherwise, Ruud
Out of curiosity I watched (partially) the Zverev-Demon match, fully expecting to be disappointed. And I was disappointed.
As I said before the last Nadal – De Minaur meeting, the latter is quite bad on clay. His flat counter-punching game doesn’t really work on this surface. To quote Rafa, he was basically going against the surface.
Even so, Demon should have won the second set, but he looks to be an even bigger choker than the Russian. He did some good things – returned well and at times played varied enough to frustrate Zverev and cause “unforced” errors. However, most of the time he tried to match blow for blow and even outpower his opponent – which was basically stupid.
Zverev did not play that well in 2022. He played an almost hobbling Rafa in cold and damp conditions – and still lost. Even without the ankle break I find it hard to believe that he could have kept up with Nadal for 5 hours.
Like always, Zverev’s RG run is going to end when he meets the first good and in-form clay-courter – Ruud again this year. The weather is warming up, it might not even be that close. Casper in 4.
I like Ruud in 4.
🤞
“…almost hobbling Rafa…”
Lol
You’re a piece of work C.P.
https://au.sports.yahoo.com/tennis-2022-rafa-nadal-doctors-huge-admission-foot-miracle-231004622.html
So Rafa was not yet 100% because of the recent rib fracture and also played with a numb foot (without local anaesthesia he would have been actually hobbling). Still won RG, beating Djokovic along the way.
There are great nostalgic stories in that sports Yahoo link. 2022 was a good year.
Sinner in 4 Casper ruud in 5
Alcaraz won’t be able to handle sinners ground strokes
Casper is the better clay court player than zverev
good picks
Tough match to pick….lots of factors in play….but I like Zv this time around…in 4