Roland Garros knew it would have a new champion when defending champion, Serbian Novak Djokovic, announced his withdrawal from the quarterfinals due to a meniscus injury in his right knee that landed him in the operating room in Paris and out of the match . he planned with Norwegian Casper Ruud, who will miss the final for the third year in a row.
The Scandinavian, 25 years old and world No. 7, victim of Rafa Nadal in 2022 and ‘Nole in 2023, lost in the semifinals against the German Alexander Zverev 27 years old and No. 4, by 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 and 6-2.
The conditions were a stark contrast to their rivalry twelve months ago, when Zverev was slowly recovering from a serious ankle injury suffered in the 2022 semis against Nadal. He lost 6-3, 6-4 and 6-0 against a Ruud who suffered this time from stomach discomfort against the recent Rome Masters 1000 champion, who had won his last twelve matches on clay.
Zverev made it past the penultimate round of Roland Garros to the fourth, where he will play his second Grand Slam final (he lost at the 2020 US Open against Dominic Thiem) against Carlos Alcarazon Sunday at 3:00 pm
A chance for revenge for the Spaniard, who doesn’t want his record held against him. And he is 4-5 with Zverev, his executioner in the quarterfinals of the last Australian Open 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2) and 6-4. He beat him later in Indian Wells, 6-3 and 6-1, but it was the Grand Slam that made the difference.
“It will be very difficult, he plays well on clay,” said the Murcian, who also has elimination in the quarterfinals nailed down. Roland Garros 2022: 6-4, 6-4, 4-6 and 7-6 (7) of Teuton.
Source: La Verdad
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