Casper Ruud silenced the record-breaking run of lucky loser Nuno Borges on Friday, securing a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory in 1 hour 34 minutes to advance to the Paris Masters 1000 semi-finals. The Norwegian’s win marks a significant personal milestone, as it is his 11th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final appearance and his second of the current season following his run to the Rome final. Ruud’s performance also secured his third Masters 1000 semi-final on hard courts, joining his previous deep runs in Miami and Montreal in 2022.
World No. 23 avenges Basel defeat and converts sole break point to set up Alcaraz clash
The match served as immediate redemption for Ruud, who had suffered a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to the Portuguese just one week prior in Basel. Borges entered the contest having held all 25 of his service games in the main draw, forcing Ruud into a grueling first-set tie-break. Despite the defensive resilience of the lucky loser, Ruud remained composed, converting his only break point of the entire match to close out the second set and secure the victory. The win lifts the Norwegian to No. 18 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, signaling a strong upward trajectory ahead of the year-end finals.
Ruud now faces a formidable challenge in second seed Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated 11th seed Taylor Fritz 6-7 (10), 7-5, 6-3 in the quarter-finals. The head-to-head record heavily favors the Spanish star, who leads the series 6-1. However, Ruud’s ability to overcome a high-pressure tie-break and neutralize a player on a historic streak suggests he is in peak form. As the Paris Masters intensifies, the Norwegian’s tactical discipline will be tested against Alcaraz’s aggressive baseline game in a high-stakes semi-final encounter.
Source: Tennis Majors
