Casper Ruud (24) crushed Alexander Zverev (26) in the semi-finals of the French Open and will meet tennis legend Novak Djokovic (36) in the final on Sunday. Now he reveals the recipe for success.
Ruud tells the Norwegian press in Paris that he showed his best version of himself against the 26-year-old German. He justifies the great match by saying he saw the whole thing as a practice match.
– The reason why I probably managed it today is because I thought ‘Okay, I’m in the semi-finals. If I lose, it’ll be bad, but I’ve had a good two weeks here anyway. I’ll just try to think about it’ “Sasha”“Sasha”Surname of Alexander Zverev. “And I have a practice match, and then I’ll give everything and not think too much,” Casper Rudd said at the post-semi-final press conference.
Now the 24-year-old from Snarøya is hoping to recreate the action in Sunday’s final – when he can win his first Grand Slam title. It is believed that he did not feel much pressure in the semi-finals on Friday.
– It worked out pretty well, and I’ll probably try to think along the same lines on Sunday. I was actually a little nervous today, I only felt a lot of pressure or nerve when I had to serve in the match. I wasn’t nervous before the game or when it started, so it’s questionable if there won’t be something similar on Sunday.
When Ruud once again tackles Philippe Chatrier in his second French Open final on Sunday, world superstar Novak Djokovic is the contender. Last year was a more difficult task: Rafael Nadal, the king of clay.
If Djokovic beats Ruud, the Serb will become the all-time Grand Slam winner on the men’s side. The 36-year-old could win his 23rd title and thus overtake Rafael Nadal. Rudd believes there is clearly more pressure on the Serbs on Sunday.
– I’ve never hit him, maybe he thinks he’s the favorite. It’s the biggest pressure on him. I’m going to try to enjoy the game but if I’m not at my best it’s probably going to be tough against him. I’m going to try to do as I did today, give it my all at every point and see if I can do better this year than last year,” Rudd tells VG.
Alexander Zverev was very disappointed when he met the press on Friday night, but added humbly that he lost to a better tennis player after 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Honestly, it couldn’t be better for Casper. Novak is one of the best players in the world, there’s no doubt about that, but when you’re looking to become historic there’s added pressure, Zverev tells VG.
It shows the US Open final, where Djokovic lost to Daniil Medvedev in 2021, after the Serbian defeated Zverev in the semi-finals. Before Sunday’s final, Nadal and Djokovic each held 22 Grand Slam singles titles.
– We are people, Novak is a person. We all know that. So this is the best-case scenario for Casper, Zverev tells VG.
Ruud has met Djokovic four times, but never in a Grand Slam tournament. Ruud never took a set against the Serbian tennis legend.
Sunday is Ruud’s third time in the final, losing to Rafael Nadal in Paris last year, and Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open in September.
– said Ruud after the victory over Zverev on Friday evening – maybe all the good things are three.
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