ATP Finals: Ruud joins Djokovic, Medvedev and Zverev in semis

A 12 months in the past, Casper Ruud had simply cracked the highest 30 within the rankings. Look at him now.
As the eighth and remaining qualifier for the ATP Finals, the 22-year-old Norwegian has joined top-ranked Novak Djokovic, No. 2 Daniil Medvedev and No. 3 Alexander Zverev within the semifinals of the elite season-ending occasion. And he’s accomplished so in model.

🇳🇴 C A S P E R 🇳🇴
The 22-year-old outlasts Andrey Rublev 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) to achieve the semifinals of the ATP Finals in Turin!
🎥: @TennisTV | @CasperRuud98 pic.twitter.com/o6ZXH1S2cI
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) November 19, 2021

Ruud confirmed off aggressive ways within the decisive tiebreaker and served an ace on his second match level in a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) victory over Andrey Rublev in his remaining round-robin match on Friday to safe his sudden spot within the final 4. The fifth-ranked Rublev had overwhelmed Ruud in all 4 of their earlier matches. I can thank my arm that I used to be in a position to hit an ace on match level, as a result of I used to be so nervous, Ruud mentioned.
Ruud will subsequent face Medvedev, the U.S. Open champion and the defending champion of this occasion, which is being performed in Turin for the primary time after 12 years in London. Djokovic and Zverev will renew their budding rivalry within the different semifinal Saturday.
Even although I’m the fourth man I don’t think about myself the fourth-best participant on the planet, Ruud mentioned. Tomorrow might be a enjoyable day most likely the most important match of my profession. Later, round-robin play concluded with Djokovic beating British alternate Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-1 in a largely meaningless match. Norrie changed the injured Stefanos Tsitsipas, who’s ranked No. 4.
I performed effectively tonight from the primary to the final level,” Djokovic mentioned. “That’s positively encouraging for the following match tomorrow, which might be more durable.