RG - Ruud wins 2nd semi final

Semi final day in Paris. 

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4

Semi final 2:

Casper Ruud (8) (Norway) v Marin Cilic (20) (Croatia)

Cilic won his only Grand Slam title in 2014 - the US Open.

He has been a finalist at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

His best previous results at Roland Garros were quarters in 2017 and 2018.

Casper Ruud, before this tournament, had only been past the third round in a major once - round of sixteen at the 2021 Australian Open.

He had made the third round at Roland Garros in 2019, 2020, 2021.

Ruud won the two previous matches between the pair - both at Masters 1000 events, Rome in 2020 and Toronto 2021.

There were no service breaks in the first six games, although Cilic had to save two break points in the fourth.

In the seventh game, Ruud was down 15-30 and Cilic compounded the problem with two forehand winners to achieve the first break of serve.

The Croatian saved a break point to lead 5-3.

Ruud, serving to stay in the set, led 40-30, but Cilic won three straight points, including two forehand winners, one on set point.

Cilic ahead 6-3.

Cilic was down 0-40 in game three of set two after three unforced errors. One of the three break points was saved, but then a fourth error gave Ruud the game and a 2-1 lead. The Norwegian saved a break point before consolidating his break and led 3-1.

Serving for the set at 5-4, Ruud was down 0-40. He saved all break points, and served out the set 6-4

In the opening game of set three, Cilic saved two break points but couldn’t save a third.

The same thing occurred in game three.

Meanwhile Ruud was holding each of his serves, including in the sixth game where he had to save a couple of break points himself.

The lead was 5-1.

Serving for the set at 5-2, Ruud delivered, but not before needing to save a break point. The eighth seed now led two sets to one.

In set four, Cilic was broken in the opening game and again in the fifth.

Ruud consolidated each time and led 5-1.

Cilic forced Ruud to serve for the match by holding in the seventh game.

Serving for the match, Ruud hit an overhead winner, then Cilic hit a backhand wide. 30-0.

A forehand winner gave Ruud three match points.

An ace wrapped things up as Casper Ruud won a place in the final 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2.

Final will be between:

Rafael Nadal (5) (Spain) v Casper Ruud (8) (Norway)