We’re into the semi-finals at the 2024 edition of the men’s French Open as Alex Zverev faces Casper Rudd for a shot at the tournament’s finals.
2024 ATP Tour – Masters 1000
French Open
Stade Roland Garros
Selected Semi-finals Matches – 7 June 2024
Alex Zverev 88/100 | Casper Rudd 9/10
With the top three players in the world all entering this tournament under slight injury clouds, these were the two names I ultimately leaned towards in my pre-tournament prognostication. And Djokovic’s subsequent withdrawal means that we are certain of crowning a new winner in Paris later this week. But will it be Olympic champion Alex Zverev or two-time beaten finalist Casper Rudd?
Alex Zverev
Alex Zverev simply had too much class and power for valiant quarter-final opponent Alex de Minaur, progressing to his fourth consecutive French Open semi-final with a comfortable straight-sets win. His serve bailed him out of trouble endlessly and has become one of the most commanding deliveries out there.
The German will have been glad to subdue the ‘Speed Demon’ in relatively quick time having played back-to-back five-set marathons against Griekspoor and Rune. He has now won 11 consecutive matches after lifting the Rome title in preparation for this event.
But the German has a pretty dismal 1-6 record in Grand Slam semi-finals, somehow conspiring to lose against Medvedev at this year’s Aussie Open (he was leading by two sets to love). He has also lost here in three consecutive semi-finals (going down to his next opponent in straight sets last season).
He has reached one Grand Slam final, going down to Dominic Thiem in three sets during the severely Covid-affected US Open final (where he also squandered a two-set lead).
One thing he has to deal with is the fact that his ongoing criminal trial for allegedly abusing a former girlfriend resumes this coming Friday. The German legal system allows him to skip the trial unless the judge orders him to attend.
But the whole affair does leave a slightly sour taste in the mouth. Does the ATP Tour have an ethical mandate to prevent an alleged physical abuser from profiting wildly during such a trial? In any event, Zverev has managed to keep his mind squarely on the tennis and will look ahead to what could be a really physically taxing outing against clay-court specialist Casper Rudd.
Casper Rudd
Two-time Roland Garros beaten finalist Casper Rudd will certainly be the fresher of the two players, benefitting from Novak Djokovic’s injury withdrawal and gaining some valuable recuperation ahead of this semi-final.
Rudd is 3-0 in his career Grand Slam semi-final (though he, like Zverev, is still yet to seal the deal on the biggest stage). 17 of Rudd’s 23 career ATP Tour finals have come on clay. In fact, 11 of his 12 career titles have been claimed on the sticky stuff.
I know it may seem a bit reductive to call a former US Open finalist a clay-court specialist- but if the shoe fits. He has reached the semi-final stage or better in six Masters 1000 clay-court events and he has twice reached the championship match here in Paris.
He has tremendous depth in shot and one of the most repeatable forehands I have ever seen. He had to endure his own tense five-set thriller against Davidovich Fokina but he looked extremely polished in his fourth-round win against Taylor Fritz.
Rudd is protecting his own little tidy unbeaten streak this week. He won the Geneva Open on the eve of this event and he is currently working a seven-match unbeaten run. He has reached more finals than anyone else on tour this season (5).
He lost to Tsitsipas in the Monte-Carlo championship match but quickly avenged that defeat with victory over the Greek in the Barcelona final. The fact that Rudd reached the final on those slow Monte-Carlo dustbowls tells you how perfect he is for this challenge.
He hits both of his groundstrokes with considerable topspin but it is his forehand that is the real weapon. He can obliterate forehand winners from a solid platform or on the run. He also has an underrated and repeatable serve (though not as imposing as Zverev’s). The way he deals with the German’s delivery could prove critical in the destiny of this match.
The Verdict: Rudd to win in four 38/10
These two currently share the head-to-head spoils at two wins apiece. Rudd won in straight sets when they met at this stage last year and he should be favoured again considering his time off court. Rudd doesn’t really get affected by the occasion and he will wear down Zverev physically.
Zverev’s touch around the net was exquisite against de Minaur but Rudd will not be that easy to approach. He can hit a variety of passing shots off both wings and he isn’t too far behind the Aussie in terms of athleticism.
