Having started the 2022 season with just one Grand Slam fourth-round appearance, Casper Ruud was determined to improve on that record.
A day before the start of the Australian Open in January, he twisted his ankle in training and had to withdraw from the event. Not at all ideal, but look at it now: semi-finalist in New York, Ruud has a chance of climbing to first place in the ATP rankings, in the wake of a final appearance at Roland-Garros.
He would occupy the throne of men’s tennis with a victory in the final on Sunday, or if he finds himself there against a player other than Carlos Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old Norwegian, coached by his father, former professional player Christian, turned what he described as his best career start into a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 win (4) ahead of Matteo Berrettini in the quarter-finals on Monday.
“Something clicked in Paris. I feel like I’ve found the best way to approach matches that go up to five sets,” said fifth-seeded Ruud. It is very different from the formula two of three. »
“It was a matter of realizing that you can skip a set once in a while, to save energy.”
He improved to 12-2 in the Grand Slam in 2022 after committing just two unforced errors in the first set, 11 less than Berrettini.
“All shots were going my way,” Ruud said. I landed all the shots I needed. »
Three players have a chance to replace Medvedev at the top of men’s tennis: Ruud, Rafael Nadal (beaten in the fourth round by Frances Tiafoe) and Carlos Alcaraz (who faces Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals on Wednesday).
Ruud will face the winner of the quarter-final scheduled for Tuesday night between Karen Khachanov and Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios, who knocked out defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round.
Garcia reaches the quarter-finals
Among the ladies, Caroline Garcia reached the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time in her career, aged 28.
The Frenchwoman beat 18-year-old American Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-4, thanks in part to three breaks and a 13-for-16 performance at net.
“I go all out, even when I’m stressed,” Garcia said.
Seeded number 17, Garcia had lost his first two matches against Gauff, 12e first in the series.
Champion in Cincinnati last month, Garcia is now on 13 straight victories.
She hasn’t missed a set in New York this year, in five games.
Ranked 74e at the end of the 2021 season, Garcia will sneak into the top-10 next week.
“For the past two months, I feel healthy again. »
Garcia will find Ons Jabeur, Wimbledon finalist, on his way. She prevailed 6-4, 7-6 (4) against the player who took down Serena Williams in the third round, Ajla Tomljanovic.
“I’m looking forward to my next challenge and what I can achieve,” Garcia also said.
Jabeur, from Tunisia, is the first African to qualify for a semi-final at Flushing Meadows since the start of the professional era (from 1968).
“I’m just trying to do my job,” Jabeur said. I hope to inspire more and more generations coming from Africa. It really means a lot to me. »
In addition, with weather forecasts announcing rain all day, several matches have been postponed, including the women’s doubles match involving the Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and her partner Giuliana Olmos, from Mexico, as well as the mixed doubles match with the tandem composed of the Lavalloise Leylah Fernandez and the American Jack Sock.