French Open, semi-final, Friday, 07.06.2024
So there they are again facing each other in the semi-finals of the French Open 2024, we already had that a year ago! German tennis fans can rejoice, Alexander Zverev has actually made it to the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
The 27-year-old has already completed a few feats of strength, which naturally raises the question of whether he is fit enough for the round of the top four. There he will face the man who is completely rested after surviving the quarter-finals without a fight.
There’s a lot to report in my Ruud Zverev tip, because an exit so close to the final would be incredibly bitter for both of them. I’ll tell you why I’m keeping both fingers crossed from a German perspective, but unfortunately have a different favorite
He’s still dreaming of his first Grand Slam title, but he also knows that it won’t get any easier! Alexander Zverev has made it to the semi-finals of the French Open after one or two feats of strength and is only two steps away from his big goal.
The times when he sent his opponents home with ease and had no problems at all seem to be over. What worked so wonderfully against Rafael Nadal (6-3, 7-6, 6-3) and David Goffin (7-6, 6-2, 6-2) didn’t really work out later on.
If you have been following Zverev at this Major, you will of course already know that he needed all five sets against both Tallon Griekspoor (3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6) and Holger Rune (4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2).
And so the Olympic champion entered the quarter-finals as the man with the most playing time of all the remaining professionals. Fortunately, this was not his undoing against Alex de Minaur
He won easily, but: At 6-4, 7-6, 6-4, he definitely didn’t produce the performance he needs to show in the semi-final against Casper Ruud. Only two aces, 70% points won on the first and 52% on the second serve, the service did not come as usual.
Zverev made far too many unnecessary mistakes and was already 4:0 down in the tiebreak. Of course I have to praise his comeback qualities, but he himself will know that he didn’t have his best evening.
In the end, however, he had reached the semi-finals of Roland Garros for the fourth time in a row and finally seems to be ready to make it to the final. If he doesn’t injure himself in the “final training session”, because there was something?
Exactly one year ago, Zverev was suddenly plagued by muscular problems shortly before the important match. And who did he lose to in three sets? Exactly, against Casper Ruud of all people, who is also waiting for him now
While the German won the duel three times in 2021, mind you before his serious injury, Ruud was victorious in the most recent two. Not an easy task for the bookmakers, who are already looking closely at the EURO 2024 odds.
And indeed, there are none! Both players have approximate odds of 1.90, the differences are barely measurable. Could we perhaps even go over five sets? That would probably demand a lot more from Zverev.
While he had to work hard against de Minaur, Casper Ruud enjoyed a day off. He was actually supposed to play Novak Djokovic, but the Serbian withdrew with an injury.
Ruud therefore progressed without a fight and can now reach the final of the French Open for the third time in a row. The 25-year-old could certainly do with a bit of a rest, because outright victories? I only recognize the 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 against Felipe Alves from the first round
After that, Ruud always had to play at least four sets, and he even needed all five against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Four were then enough again against Tomas Martin Etcheverry (6-4, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2) and Taylor Fritz (7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2).
Strikingly, Ruud has now dropped the second set three times in a row, so perhaps Zverev should remember that. He is a full 15 centimetres shorter than the German and has given away 44 break chances in the last three games alone!
My Ruud Zverev tip
Only one match to go and he’ll be in the final! Alexander Zverev is on the brink of great success, but this one step has to be taken first. His performance against Alex de Minaur was shaky, as were his victories against Holger Rune and Tallon Griekspoor.
Casper Ruud’s performance at the French Open has been relatively unspectacular, but he seems to have everything under control despite losing a few sets. And: He has reached the final in Paris in the last two years.
As much as I would like Alexander Zverev to win, Ruud just seems a bit more solid to me. If you then add the fact that Zverev almost never wins against top 10 opponents at majors, my tip (from a German perspective, unfortunately) is:
Ruud wins against Zverev!
