Casper Ruud has his eye on the top of the world rankings after reaching the semi-finals at the US Open. And Ons Jabeur continues to make history.
The Norwegian Casper Ruud became the first tennis player to reach the semi-finals of this year’s US Open in New York. Ruud (23), seeded number five, defeated Italian Matteo Berrettini (26) in three sets 6:1, 6:4, 7:6 (7:4) on Tuesday and was the first Norwegian in tournament history to qualify for the Round of the best four players.
“I don’t think I’ve ever started a match so well”said Ruud, who now meets Australian Nick Kyrgios or Russian Karen Khachanov: “I don’t want to think about the number one too much. Of course every boy dreams of it. Before the tournament I didn’t know I could achieve it. I’ll try.”
If he reaches the final, Ruud could take over first place in the world rankings from Russian Daniil Medvedev after the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. The dethroned defending champion will definitely lose his top position after the knockout round against Kyrgios.
Ons Jabeur defeats Ajla Tomljanovic
Ons Jabeur continues to make history for women: The 28-year-old Tunisian is the first African woman to reach the semi-finals of the US Open since the introduction of professional tennis in 1968. Jabeur prevailed with a consistent performance 6: 4, 7: 6 (7: 4) against the Australian Ajla Tomljanovic and fights against Coco Gauff (USA) or Caroline Garcia (France) for a place in the final on Saturday.
Jabeur, fifth in the world rankings, had already caused a stir in Wimbledon with her participation in the final, she missed winning the title in a duel with Jelena Rybakina from Kazakhstan. Now she is starting the next attempt at her first Grand Slam coup and convinced Tomljanovic with an offensive style of play.
Tomljanovic eliminated New York’s Serena Williams in the third round and then made it into the quarter-finals for the first time at the tournament. She only held out against Jabeur in the second set, but was left behind in the tie-break.