Portugal Colonial - Ruud overcomes tall order to reach Geneva final

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