Casper Ruud and Holger Rune will be going head-to-head for the first time since a spicy encounter at the 2022 French Open when they collide in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia semifinals on Friday.
In the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, Ruud won a tense 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 battle that featured plenty of ill-spirited theatrics on the court, in the press room, and allegedly even in the locker room. It remains unclear exactly what happened, but whatever the case there will be no love lost between the two competitors in this Rome rematch.
As for the on-court rivalry, Ruud has won all four of their previous meetings. The Norwegian also prevailed 6-2, 6-1 at the 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters, 6-0, 6-2 a few months later in Bastad, and 7-6(5), 7-5 last spring in Monte-Carlo.
However, in all likelihood it will be a different story on Friday. Rune is a much different player now, having climbed to No. 7 in the rankings thanks in part to the Paris Masters title last fall in addition to a 26-9 record this year that includes a clay-court title in Munich and a runner-up performance in Monte-Carlo. So far in Rome he has advanced by beating Arthur Fils, Fabio Fognini, Alexei Popyrin, and Novak Djokovic.
Ruud has gone in the opposite direction in 2023. At one point second in the rankings and a win away from becoming No. 1 (lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 U.S. Open final), Ruud is now fourth–and was a dismal 24th in the race to Turin prior to this fortnight. His record heading into Rome was 11-9, but he is showing signs of getting back on track with victories over Arthur Rinderknech, Alexander Bublik, Laslo Djere, and Francisco Cerundolo.
Still, Ruud is not back to his 2022 best. The 24-year-old went to a third-set tiebreaker with Bublik and was far from his peak level during Wednesday’s defeat of Cerundolo. Ruud also doesn’t have as much variety in his game as Rune and only his forehand is a big enough shot to hit through slow and wet conditions in Rome. Rune has a more dangerous serve, hits big off both wings, and is happy to finish points at the net.
Expect the tide of this matchup to turn on Friday–probably in convincing fashion, too.
Pick: Rune in 2
who ya got?
Rune in 2
Not me
Coin toss. It’s as 50/50 as it can get. Ruud is the better value @ 2.50.
In this form Rune will need to have a bad day to lose
Not me
Rune in 2😻
Going on the South American swing with Nadal took out all the confidence Ruud built in 2022. Let alone what that did to Nadal. Money talks. Ruud should win. I want Rune to win. The big three of the future, Alcaraz, Sinner, and Rune will make both Nadal and Djokovic retire. Life moves on.
Nadal will drag it on until 2024 and then do a Federer. As if he is going to take a year off and then come back when the others have improved even more.
Rudd in 3
Ruud in 3 and Tsitsipas over Med.
Not me
Go Rune! Go Med!
Watch them lose now!
This is by far the best Ruud has played this year. Meanwhile Rune is looking a bit jaded..
Agree with both statements. Haven’t seen Ruud play so well since for ever! And Rune looks very tired and flat. Expected more of a fight TBH
Dreadful breaker by Rune. Reckon he is going to lose.
But where did Ruud’s forehand suddenly come from!
Maybe suddenly realising his idol Rafa is out for RG and with Novak playing poorly he has a,real chance??!
yeah annoying as it is..
Not me
Rune looking very exposed today. So many ues since the beginning of the breaker. Dropshot a bit of a disaster.
He is too erratic right now to win a slam. Can have inspired matches and take a big player out but just not consistent and fit enough.
Lacks a killer shot as well.
Well, whaddya know? 3 games in a row and it’s one set each!
C’mon Holgar!
What a turnaround!!
Ruud started to make mistakes and Rune got fired up!
Ruud now on way out looks like..!
Massive turnaround. Massive turnaround mentally!
Before the next match starts, I want to Congratulate Fara Diba and Cami on picking Rybakina and winning the Rome WTA bracket challenge.
The ATP scores were maybe the worst I’ve seen for a 1000 Tournament. Even in the Big Moo group, the scores were extremely low. Again congrats to me and Cami with the lowest ‘high’ scores.
I did Lyon and Geneva when I woke up, and the WTA bracket(s) were not up. These little lead-up to GS tournaments are unpredictable for me.
Good luck with the brackets, everyone. 😀
Rune 💪
Not me