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Two-time runner-up Ruud dreams of French Open title
© afp.com/Fabrice COFFRINI

Two-time runner-up Ruud dreams of French Open title

Published by , Sunday 05/26/24 04:28

Casper Ruud said he would love to think 2024 is finally his year at the French Open, but added that Novak Djokovic remained his favourite to win the tournament, which starts on Sunday.

Twice a runner-up in Paris, Ruud heads to Roland-Garros on a high after winning the Geneva Open title for a third time -- but said Djokovic, the world number one and defending champion, remained top of the pecking order, despite a shaky season so far.

Norwegian Ruud, the world number seven, beat 44th-ranked Czech Tomas Machac 7-5, 6-3 in Saturday's final to add to the Geneva trophies he won in 2021 and 2022.

Machac knocked out Djokovic in the Geneva semi-finals, with the 37-year-old Serb struggling to find his usual impeccable rhythm.

Ruud, 25, has lost in the last two French Open finals -- including last year to Djokovic.

Asked if he thought this year could be the moment to go one better, Ruud said: "I would love to, and I would love to think that way, but I'm not really expecting that this year is the year I'm going to win it.

"It's so open these days and of course to me, even though Novak has had maybe a tougher year than usual, I would still consider him the favourite. He's arriving there with 24 Grand Slams in the bag."

- Rival contenders -

Besides Rafael Nadal, who has won a record 14 French Open titles, Ruud said "many have been talking about" Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for the title -- while Alexander Zverev won in Rome and Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo on the clay this year.

Ruud, who won Barcelona on the clay, will face Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves in the first round at Roland-Garros.

Ruud said he was targeting getting through the opening rounds, and taking it from there.

"The goal, like any other Slam, is to reach the second week and from there, typically I've seen that things open up a little bit," he said.

"Maybe you play someone who's tired. If you're physically ready for the second week of a Slam, a lot of good things might happen."

- Play 'real matches' -

The 28-man Geneva tournament serves as a warm-up before the French Open, the second of the year's four Grand Slams.

Ruud certainly got some practice in for the rigours of five-set Grand Slam matches.

Rain delays meant he played two matches in one day on Saturday, first beating Italy's in-form Flavio Cobolli 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in a roller coaster semi-final before going on to defeat Machac.

"I wanted to build up some momentum for Paris and I think I've been able to do that and hopefully I can bring it on to Paris," Ruud said.

"Physically it's good preparation, and you look at all the other players in Paris, what do they do in training? They play matches. So why don't you come here and play a real match instead of just practice matches?

"It’s been a great week in terms of winning and also building up the form and the physical aspects for Paris."

Source: AFP

Latest comments comments
Change is always good.
B Ravi kumar B Ravi kumar il y a 9 heures
Everyone will have there GOAT. Mine will always be Nadal. So glad I had the opportunity to watch him for almost his entire career
sdholly5 sdholly5 il y a 11 heures
Someone needs reading lessons
bigman27 bigman27 il y a 18 heures
Congratulation Emma I want you back to top 10 I always love you
Magdywhitecat Magdywhitecat il y a 21 heures
I had a small miniscus tear operated on and was allowed back in the gym and rnning 4 days later so long as I promised to take anti inflammatories and ice heavily afterwards. Back to playing basketball and tennis in two weeks. So it depends on the nature of the injury and surgery.
SH321 SH321 il y a 22 heures
It's the most wonderful tiiiime of the yeaaaar....
cyberpixie cyberpixie il y a 1 jour
Top des commentaires comments
Nicely played Thiago 👏👌
1 thumb_up
Aladdin Sane Aladdin Sane
LET'S FUCKING GO EMIL! WELCOME BACK TO THE THRONE!! And don't listen to Aladdin..
1 thumb_up
Ossian S. Ossian S.
Everyone will have there GOAT. Mine will always be Nadal. So glad I had the opportunity to watch him for almost his entire career
1 thumb_up
sdholly5 sdholly5
The person who write this article is completely incorrect, or simply ignorant to write the statement "Jannik Sinner is all about himself". Is the writer for real? Jannik is the most decent, humble and
1 thumb_up
Bobo Bobo
Congrats & well played Paul 🇬🇧👏👌
1 thumb_up
Aladdin Sane Aladdin Sane