By Sebastian Kayser
The opportunity was huge, but he didn’t take it!
Tennis star Alexander Zverev (26) flies out in the semifinals of the French Open without a sound. Against the Norwegian Casper Ruud (24) is the final stop after 3: 6, 4: 6, 0: 6. Last year’s finalist will now play the final against Serbian Novak Djokovic (36) on Sunday (3 p.m., Eurosport live).
From the start, the Olympic champion is in a losing position. 0: 2 false start, but Break brought back immediately, that gives hope. But the Hamburger loses it immediately; that’s enough for the number 4 in the world to secure the first set 6: 3.
Casper Ruud, No. 4 in the world, is happy about reaching the final in Paris Photo: Thomas SAMSON / AFP
After that it doesn’t get any better. Many mistakes by Zverev, who never really arrives in the game. Reaching the second Grand Slam final of his career after the 2020 US Open, where he lost to Austria’s Dominic Thiem (29), seems like too much of a burden. Ruud, on the other hand, is always there when he needs to be there. He makes almost all important points. A break is enough for him again.
The Scandinavian also starts the third set with a break. Even before that, Zverev was dissatisfied, arguing loudly in Russian towards the box: “What’s next?” Does he mean his own game? Since the two-time world champion finds no recipe. Even the “Sascha, Sascha” chants echoing through the stadium didn’t help.
Zverev never really got into the game and made too many mistakes Photo: Thomas SAMSON / AFP
After 2:09 hours, the game is over surprisingly quickly after Zverev also loses two more service games. Whatever he tries that evening, he fails. That was not to be expected. What remains is the miracle of having gotten this far after a seven-month injury break until the end of 2022.
In the semifinals at the same place, Zverev lost to Rafael Nadal a year ago after tearing seven ligaments in his ankle and having to give up. Now he’s back and in very good shape.
Small consolation for him, which he certainly does not want to hear: in the end, the days in Paris were good for him, despite the poor performance against Ruud. Bad: Zverev was booed at the net when he congratulated Ruud and then when he left the pitch. It’s clear: He didn’t deserve that after these two weeks.