PublishedSeptember 10, 2022, 00:25
US OPENCasper Ruud, qualified for the final, can dream in the place of world no1
The Norwegian, who beat Karen Khachanov in four sets, will play his second Grand Slam final on Sunday against the winner of Alcaraz-Tiafoe.
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- Simon Meier (New York)
Casper Ruud can exult. At 23, the Norwegian will play his second Grand Slam final in New York. With the hope of lifting his first trophy.
Getty Images via AFP
Casper Ruud is more than ever in the race to become the new world No. 1 – and win the first Grand Slam title of his career. The 23-year-old Norwegian, who dominated in four sets (7-6 (5), 6-2, 5-7 6-2) the Russian Karen Khachanov (ATP 31), Friday in the semi-finals of the US Open , will play his second major final on Sunday, after that lost this spring at Roland-Garros against Rafael Nadal. He will reach the throne of world tennis if Carlos Alcaraz loses against Frances Tiafoe in the second semi-final; or if he beats the Spanish wonderkid on Sunday.
To afford this possibility, Ruud first had to have Khachanov, one of the surprises of the New York fortnight – he had never passed the 3rd round in six appearances at Flushing Meadows so far. Besides, the 26-year-old Russian, who had so far had to settle for two Grand Slam quarter-finals (Roland 2019 and Wimbledon 2021), lacked oxygen at such an altitude. If he was able to deceive during a tense and disjointed first set (four breaks), it is because Ruud also had difficulty getting into the game. Nothing like, in these cases, to win a set point – his third during the tie-break – after an exchange of 55 strokes!
Relieved by winning this initial round, Ruud quickly broke away in the second act, facing a Khachanov then frustrated at missing out on the event. But the latter hung on and, while the service battle seemed to take us to a new decisive game, it was the Viking’s arm which suddenly trembled when delivering the final ax blow. Trailing 6-5, he made three unforced errors to give his opponent a reprieve.
A double dream
He didn’t enjoy it for long. Ruud, well recovered from his absence and decidedly more solid, seized the commitment of the Russian in the third game of the last set, thanks to a splendid forehand winner along the line, released at the end of the race. One of the most beautiful points of the match, which Khachanov did not digest. Again broken on his next service game, the Muscovite will be able to console himself at the end of the best fortnight of his career. As for the Norwegian, he will advance to Sunday’s final with a double dream in mind: to lift a trophy and to wear a crown.