You may not remember it, but Alexander Zverev vs. Casper Ruud was also a semifinal matchup at last year’s French Open.
It was the forgotten semifinal in 2023 and it will once again be the overlooked semifinal in 2024. Twelve months ago it took a backseat to Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz; this time around it is second fiddle to Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner.
Nonetheless, it should be a good one. Both players have been awesome on clay this spring and really on all surfaces this entire season. Zverev is 33-9 with a title in Rome, semifinal showings at the Australian Open and Miami Masters, and a quarterfinal performance in Indian Wells. Ruud is 39-9 with titles in Barcelona and Geneva, runner-up finishes in Los Cabos, Acapulco, and Monte-Carlo, and a quarterfinal run in Indian Wells.
Neither man has slowed down in Paris and nobody’s fortnight has been more eventful than Zverev’s. The fourth-ranked German drew Rafael Nadal in the opening round and beat the 14-time champion in straight sets. He parlayed that into wins over David Goffin, Tallon Griekspoor (from two breaks down in the fifth), Holger Rune (five sets), and Alex de Minaur. Ruud earned his spot in the semis by defeating Felipe Meligeni Alves, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (in five sets), Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Taylor Fritz. The world No. 7 then got a walkover from Novak Djokovic.
The head-to-head series is all tied up (just like Sinner vs. Alcaraz). Zverev and Ruud have split their four previous encounters at two wins apiece, but there is one result that stands out above the rest. The Norwegian rolled 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in their 2023 French Open semifinal tilt.
Zverev has improved since then, now two full years removed from his 2022 ankle injury. But is it enough to completely turn the tide? Maybe not–especially given the difficulty of his recent matches whereas Ruud has not played since Monday. It is Ruud who will have the edge physically–and perhaps mentally, too. After all, he destroyed this same opponent a year ago in this same spot and the pressure is all on Zverev as one of the pre-tournament favorites who has already lost in the Roland Garros semis three times without ever making it to the final.
Ruud has been to the final each of the past two seasons and looks poised to make it three in a row.
Pick: Ruud in 5