Norwegian tennis player Kasper Roed has confidently defeated Alexander Zverev to reach the final of the French Open for the second year in a row.
He will now face 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. Rudd had a tough year leading up to the tournament, but has found his form at Roland Garros.
In their last four meetings, Rudd has never won a set against Djokovic. However, this will be their first meeting at a major tournament, giving Royd hope for a different outcome. The 24-year-old expressed that he did not enter the French Open as a favorite to reach the final but is excited by the opportunity and hopes that the third time will be the charm.
During his semi-final match against Zverev, Ruud broke Zverev’s serve six times in an extraordinary performance. He controlled the rallies with powerful forehands and spin-heavy shots, leaving Zverev frustrated and struggling to keep up. Ruud won the match in straight sets with scores of 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Given his lackluster performance earlier in the year, Rudd’s run to the finals has been impressive. His return to form at the French Open is remarkable. He previously reached the final of the US Open and was the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2022.
Now, Rudd faces a significant challenge from Djokovic, who is aiming for his 23rd Grand Slam title. Rudd acknowledged that Djokovic is one of the toughest opponents in history and acknowledged the difference in experience between them. Despite being the underdog, Ruud is determined to do his best and win his first Grand Slam.
If Ruud succeeds, he will join the ranks of legendary Scandinavian players like Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, and Stefan Edberg, who have reached three or more Grand Slam finals. Rudd’s journey to the French Open has been full of ups and downs, but now he has a chance to make his name in tennis history.
