Ruud dejected: "Why did these stomach pains happen today?"

Casper Ruud was clearly physically diminished when he lost to Alexander Zverev in the French Open semi-finals on Friday (2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2). While everything had been going well over the last few days, the Norwegian was depressed that these symptoms should arrive precisely when he was about to play this match that is so important to him. He confided as much at the post-match press conference.

Casper Ruud: "It's a bit of a shame. I got off to a good start. But towards the middle or end of the first set, I started to feel some discomfort, a pain in my stomach. So I couldn't maintain the intensity and energy level. It was something that was bothering me. It kind of limited me. It's a shame.

I won the first set, so that was a good feeling, but I didn't feel very good even in that first set. The last three went quickly because Sascha played well, of course, but I couldn't play the kind of tennis I like to play, with intensity, because I was a bit limited by my stomach.

I don't want to make excuses, but it's frustrating and disappointing. I'm just, you know, disappointed that it was today. Why wasn't it yesterday or the day before when I had three days off?"