Casper Rud (ATP 5) will play his second Grand Slam final of the year on Sunday at the US Open. The Norwegian won 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 5-7 6-2 in 2h59′ ahead of Karen Khachanov (27).
Rafael Nadal will therefore not find the 1st place in the world on Monday. It will go to Casper Ruud or Carlos Alcaraz, who must beat Frances Tiafoe in the second semi-final then conquer the title to become at 19 years and 4 months the youngest No. 1 in history.
Casper Ruud will approach this final with full confidence, and strong from the experience lived at Roland-Garros where he had suffered the law of Rafael Nadal in the final. He also did not waste too much energy once morest a much less “bleeding” Karen Khachanov than in his quarter-final won in 5 sets once morest Nick Kyrgios.
19 losses in a row once morest the top-10
Visibly blunted, Karen Khachanov let go following the first tie-break, in which he paid cash for the unforced error committed on his first point of service. Much more solid in the exchange, Casper Ruud drove the point home in a second set where he did not lose a single point on his commitment.
Karen Khachanov recovered in the 3rd round, also taking advantage of his opponent’s nervousness to revive. But the improvement did not last. And Casper Ruud was able to tighten his guard in the 4th set to inflict on the Russian his… 19th consecutive defeat once morest a member of the top 10.
ats/bao
