(Monte-Carlo) Norwegian Casper Ruud scored a first career victory against Serbian Novak Djokovic on Saturday, winning 6-4, 1-6 and 6-4 in the semi-final of the Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters .
Published at 12:12 p.m. Updated at 2:13 p.m.
He thus joins in the final the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (12th), who stayed on course towards a third title in this tournament by defeating the Italian Jannik Sinner (second) 6-4, 3-6 and 6-4.
Djokovic (first) committed a double fault on a match point and suffered a first defeat in six duels against Ruud (eighth). Ruud had never been able to win a round against the Serb.
Djokovic trailed 4-1 in the final set, but won the next game with balls in hand before breaking a visibly nervous Ruud to make it 4-3.
At 15-15 in the eighth game, Djokovic turned around and shouted an expletive at a spectator. Referee Mohamed Lahyani asked those present not to shout during a rally, but did not issue a verbal warning to Djokovic for his words.
“Djoko” then trailed 40-0 on serve, and Ruud clinched the victory with his third match point.
PHOTO VALERY HACHE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Casper Ruud
Holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has still not won a tournament this year, he who has 98 in his career.
Earlier, Tsitsipas handed Sinner only his second defeat of the season.
Sinner, who has already won three tournaments this year, looked in control in the final set as he led 4-3 with balls in hand. However, he requested a medical break. The therapist focused on her right knee and thigh.
Although he smiled at the therapist, things got more serious in the next game, when Tsitsipas broke his serve on his fifth attempt to level the score.
Sinner was limping a bit at the end of the next play and brought his hand to the back of his left thigh. He called another time out, this time receiving massages on both thighs.
His movements were limited thereafter and Tsitsipas ended the duel with his first match point.
“He is one of the toughest opponents I have faced so far and finding ways [de gagner] while there weren’t many, I’m proud of it,” Tsitsipas said.
The first set was the affair of Tsitsipas, who took a 3-1 lead with a break. The intensity increased on both sides in the second set, and Sinner forced a decisive set.
2024-04-13 16:12:58
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