Ruud stuns Djokovic with excellent display to reach Monte-Carlo final
The Norwegian avenged his defeat to the Serb in last year’s Roland-Garros final with a brilliant three-set win over the world No 1
Casper Ruud, Monte-Carlo, 2024 Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic
Casper Ruud produced one of his finest performances of the year to overcome world No 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 and reach his first Monte-Carlo Masters final.
It was a superb display of clay-court tennis from the Norwegian, who held off a late fightback from the Serb to clinch the best win of his career.
It is the first time in six attempts that Ruud has gotten the better of the 24-time Grand Slam champion, with their most recent meeting coming in the final of last year’s Roland-Garros when Djokovic was a straight-set winner.
Today, Ruud gained some measure of revenge for that defeat, reversing the result to deny Djokovic his first final of a difficult season.
Ruud broke in the very first game of the match to gain an early foothold in the opening set. He then broke again in the fifth game only for Djokovic to hit straight back, preventing Ruud from consolidating the double break.
Thankfully for the Norwegian, the single-break lead was enough for him to take the opener as he held his resolve to serve out a one-set lead.
However, Djokovic came roaring back to race through a comprehensive second-set win, breaking in the second and sixth games while holding serve to draw level at one set all.
But it was Ruud who hit back again at the start of the decider, breaking the Serb in the second game before Djokovic gained parity with a break in the seventh.
The world No 10 broke for a final time in the last game of the match, with Djokovic double-faulting on break point to hand Ruud a well-deserved win.
“When he missed the first serve I was thinking he saved so many break points in crazy ways. I kind of prayed ‘just one time let it be a double fault’,” Ruud said following his victory.
“This is a day I’ll remember for a really long time,” he continued.
“Beating a world No 1 is something I’ve never done, beating Novak is something I’ve never done.
“Very, very happy. A little bit in a state of shock right now. I was up in the third and then he came back. Kind of typical how good these guys are under pressure. You’re thinking, ‘oh please don’t let this slip away.'”
tsitsipas awaits ruud in his maiden monte-carlo final
“There’s always one more match in tennis. Tomorrow’s going to be be a special day. First time playing in a final here in Monte Carlo.
“It’s a great result but of course I’ve been chasing a big title for a few years now. Tomorrow I’m going to have another shot at it. I’m going to give it my all.”
Ruud will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in tomorrow’s showpiece, after the Greek beat Sinner in a thrilling encounter earlier in the day.
Tsitsipas is going for his third Monte-Carlo title while Ruud is looking for his first.
Both are highly accomplished clay-court players, competing in the final of the first Masters 1000 event of the season on this surface.
It should be a thoroughly entertaining watch, and may go some way to setting the narrative for the remainder of the European clay-court swing.
