(Ugo Humbert – Casper Ruud 3–6, 6–4, 1–6) Casper Ruud showed some great tennis against Ugo Humbert in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters. Novak Djokovic now awaits in the semi-finals.
Djokovic and Ruud have met five times before. Ruud lost all the matches.
– His numbers speak for themselves. “It will be David versus Goliath,” Ruud told the organizer after the match.
Djokovic did not have much difficulty defeating Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, as he won in two straight sets (7-5, 6-4).
– I will play freely and freely, I have some Norwegian friends who will encourage me, Ruud said about tomorrow's semi-final match.
The start of the match will likely be at 15.30 Norwegian time. In Saturday's match, Djokovic will also surpass Rafael Nadal in the number of semi-finals in ATP history – with 77. Nadal with 76, Roger Federer with 66, and Andy Murray with 33.
It will meet Casper Ruud in the semi-finals on Saturday.
– Very good match. He was a little upset in the second set, but he played very well and got important points in the third set, father and coach Christian Ruud tells VG in an SMS.
– It was difficult, and there was a lot of back and forth. I struggled a little in the middle there, but I saved a few break points, Casper himself summed up for the organizer after the match.
After defeating Polish Hubert Hurkacz in two straight sets (6-4, 6-2) on Thursday, he waited for French competitor Ugo Humbert (No. 15 in the world rankings) in the quarter-finals. The Norwegian got off to a great start on the cobbles in Monte Carlo.
But the match turned quickly and the 25-year-old Frenchman responded brutally. Humbert responded by going fast and going 3-2 in matches.
– This is weak. “Kasper lowered his level, and Humbert raised it several notches,” Sundbo said after the Frenchman's good spell.
Humbert then increased to 4-2 and then 6-4, thus taking 1-1 in the set.
– He played very hard and played great in the second set – he made me nervous, says Ruud.
Graphics: www.sofascore.com
In the third and decisive set, the Norwegian regained the lead. Ruud was outclassed and quickly rose to 5-1 in matches, but he had to work hard in the final match. In the second match ball, the boy from Snaroia decided in his favour, securing a place in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
With this victory, Ruud rises to seventh place in the world rankings.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner will meet in the second semi-final. It will be held at 1:30 p.m
Tsitsipas defeated Russian Karen Khatyanov in straight sets (6-4, 6-2) in the quarter-finals. Jannik Sinner defeated Holger Rönn (6–4, 6–7, 6–3).
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