Caspar Rudd became the first Norwegian to reach the Grand Slam singles final after defeating 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 at Roland Garros.
Eighth pick Rudd is 23 years old and has yet to advance to the fourth round of a major tournament.
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Her father, Christian, was a professional tennis player from 1991 to 2001.
Ruud has shown that he can play well on the ground, winning seven titles and 66 matches on the surface since early 2020.
He faced the toughest test ever on the ground against 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the final on Sunday. Ruud trained at Nadal’s tennis academy in Spain and referred to the 36-year-old Spaniard as his idol.
Ruud returned Cilic’s big serve so that he could break five times and even more ace, 16-10. Silik had 33 aces in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The third set of the semifinals was interrupted for more than 10 minutes by a climate worker who attached himself to the net and knelt on the court.
A climate worker wearing a T-shirt with the message “We have 1028 days left” attaches himself to the net and kneels on the court to prevent the match.
In the third set, the game was delayed by more than 10 minutes, with Rudd leading 3-6, 6-4, 4-1, 15.
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo watched from the entrance of the court and both players left when the protester was taken away by four security guards.
Finally, Rudd and Cilic return and are given three minutes to warm up before their semifinals resume.
During the men’s final in 2013, a topless man jumped on the court carrying a burning flame. In the 2009 final, a man approached Roger Federer and tried to put a hat on his head. In the 2003 final, a male striker blocked the net.
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