Ruud overcomes tall order to reach Geneva final / Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI - AFP
-
The High-Stakes Announcement of the Next James Bond: Lessons from Past Casting Debacles
-
Brussels Court Lifts Seizure of Polish Air Navigation Funds in Pfizer Dispute
-
Argentina to Return to World Rally Championship Calendar in 2028
-
North Dakota Enacts Bipartisan Insulin Price Cap Amid National Push
-
Newark Welfare Deficit Exceeds £140m Annually, Report Finds
-
Basil Tuma Scores First Senior Goal as Malta Draws with Ten-Man Eswatini
-
PUK Leader Declares Largest Political Crisis in Kurdistan Region History
-
Korea Reviews GLP-1 Vision Loss Warnings Following US FDA Action
-
Digi Power X Reports Q3 2026 Revenue Up 85% and AI Revenue Up Over 400% Compared to Q2
-
Below Deck alumnus João Franco and brother arrested after fatal Turkey fight
-
Ole Miss inquiry expands after video and monkey-noise allegations
-
Thousands of Urban Homes Left Without High-Speed Internet Due to Broadband Blackspots
-
General Hospital actor Randall England dies at 75
-
Bunnie XO artwork taken down from Jelly Roll’s Nashville bar
-
Boris Herrmann Claims Second Place in IMOCA Class at Route du Rhum
-
London museum removes Russell Brand hair exhibit after rape conviction
-
Arlington sentinel rebukes Pete Hegseth entourage for laughter near memorial
Ruud overcomes tall order to reach Geneva final
Casper Ruud made it back into the Geneva Open final with a close-fought 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 victory over Reilly Opelka on Friday to maintain his impressive form ahead of Roland-Garros.
Ruud is the defending champion on the Swiss clay and is now one match away from strolling into next week's French Open with the Geneva title under his belt once again.
The 28-man Geneva tournament serves as a timely tune-up for the second Grand Slam of the year in Paris.
Norwegian world number eight Ruud faced a tough test in the towering serve of US world number 18 Opelka, who at 2.11 metres is the joint-tallest player ever on the tour.
Opelka served up his first double fault on the first break point of the contest to leave Ruud serving for the match.
The 23-year-old won it with an ace to seal the semi-final in 90 minutes on the 3,000-capacity centre court.
Ruud is on a roll, having reached the semis in Rome last week.
Ruud will face either French veteran Richard Gasquet or Portugal's Joao Sousa, ranked 79 in the world, in Saturday's final.
Gasquet, 35, is on vintage form, having beaten world number two Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16, in what was the US Open champion's first match back following a hernia operation.
It was the first time Gasquet, now ranked 75th, had defeated a top-two player since beating Roger Federer in 2005 -- his only other victory over a top-two opponent in 38 attempts.
X.M.Francisco--PC