– It is madness. I played some of my best tennis in the match. I had to find my best tennis, but I didn’t manage it until the very end of the match, says Rune to Eurosport. In the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Rome on Saturday, it was finally the Dane who drew the longest straw. He was previously 0–4 against Ruud in matches. On Saturday, he fought back with 6–7, 6–4, 6–2 and won. – It’s almost a complete collapse from Casper, unfortunately, said Eurosport commentator Svein Espen Lindås Olsen on the score 5-2 to Rune in the third set. Ruud struggled to get the first serve going and lost the rhythm of the game, while Rune continued to hammer in the returns and dominate the court. The Norwegian had the initiative in the match after running away with the first set, and had two opportunities to break Rune’s serve at 4–4 in the second. Instead, the Dane recovered and took four straight points on Ruud’s serve. After that, it was mostly about Rune in Rome. Now awaits the final against Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the venerable tournament on Sunday. It will be decided when the two play in the semi-finals later on Saturday afternoon. Ruud and Rune had not met since the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros almost a year ago. After the match, a heated argument followed after Ruud won the match. They both stated afterwards that they had fallen out, and before the semi-final in Rome, Ruud announced that they would try to “make it a little more friendly this time”. Rune turned the game around Ruud played brilliant tennis at times on Saturday against a Dane who seemed to struggle a lot with his shoulder. Several times in the second set he had to be treated and massaged. Casper Ruud won the first set in a tiebreak after they both held their own service games all the way to 6-6. In the second set, Ruud had two break points at 4–4, but Rune managed to win the set. The Dane then took four quick points and broke to 6–4 on the Norwegian’s serve. SOMETIMES ON THE CUT: Casper Ruud occasionally played good tennis and kept Holger Rune at a distance, but in the end it was tough. Photo: TIZIANA FABI / AFP The decisive third set was a parade for the advancing Dane. Missing a win in a major tournament Ruud has made it to the semi-finals in Rome the last three times he has participated (lasted in 2021). He lost to Novak Djokovic in both 2020 and 2022. Last year was a huge upswing for the Norwegian with two Grand Slam finals, the final of the ATP playoffs and a Masters final. It started with a good tournament in the Italian capital. The 23-year-old has won ten ATP tournaments previously, all at the 250 level. His only Masters final to date ended in a 5–7, 4–6 loss to Carlos Alcaraz in Miami last year. GOODBYE, ROME – HELLO, PARIS! Casper Ruud thanked for the match and will now prepare for another major tournament. Photo: Alessandra Tarantino / AP Next week, the Norwegian will start the hunt for a new Grand Slam final at Roland-Garros in Paris.
ttn-69
– It is close to full collapse – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
