Casper Ruud has shocked prime seed Novak Djokovic 6-4 1-6 6-4 in an exciting Monte Carlo Masters semi-final, avenging his loss in final 12 months’s French Open last to arrange a title conflict with twice champion Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Greek Tsitsipas had earlier on Saturday upset second seed Jannik Sinner 6-4 3-6 6-4, handing the Italian solely his second defeat of the 12 months within the first semi-final.
Norwegian Ruud, who had misplaced to Djokovic in all 5 of their earlier matches, broke twice early within the first set earlier than the Serbian document 24-times grand slam champion fought again strongly within the second.
But eighth seed Ruud held his nerve as 5 unforced errors from Djokovic allowed him to go 3-0 up within the decider, and he calmly closed out the victory.
“This is a day I will remember for a long time. Beating a world number one is something I have never done,” Ruud mentioned in a post-match interview.
“You know how good these guys are under pressure … he saved so many break points. I was praying, please, let it be a double fault or something. And maybe someone was listening.”
Djokovic, who had crushed Australia’s No.1 Alex de Minaur within the quarter-finals, nonetheless hasn’t gained a title this 12 months, and stays on 98 in his glittering profession.
The Australian Open champion Sinner made a comeback within the second set after shedding the primary to Tsitsipas and led 4-3 within the decider when leg cramps compelled him to take a medical timeout.
The 22-year-old Italian continued however proved no match for Tsitsipas who gained the subsequent three video games to clinch victory.
“It was tennis at the highest level that I have been able to play,” Tsitsipas mentioned after handing Sinner solely his second loss in 27 matches this season.
“He is one of the toughest opponents I have faced so far. To find a way when there were not many, I am extremely proud of that.”
The win over Sinner introduced Tsitsipas again into the highest 10 of the world rankings after dropping out for the primary time since 2019 earlier this 12 months.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
