Alexander Zverev exacted revenge on Casper Ruud at the French Open on Friday to make his 2nd Grand Slam final and first since 2020, but with Carlos Alcaraz standing between him and a victory. Fourth seed Zverev was a loser in the semi-finals held at Roland Garros in each of the last three years, battled back to beat Ruud 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of their last four clash twelve months ago. Zverev only won seven games in the match when they faced off in the 2023 semifinals, and a similar outcome was in the offing following Ruud took control of the first set.

However, the German improved his game to reach the first French Open final and keeping his dreams of a first Grand Slam title alive.

Zverev has a record of 5-4 record of winning against Alcaraz with a win in their previous Roland Garros match during the round of 16 in 2022.

Alcaraz earlier defeated the world’s top player Jannik Sinner, in five sets.

“If you’re playing in the finals stage of Roland Garros, you deserve to be there. The same goes for him too,” said Zverev.

“He performed a superb match today. It was a superb event in general I believe. I’m anticipating a difficult match.”

Two first-time winners for the first time that has passed since Rafael Nadal defeated Mariano Puerta for his first of 14 titles back in 2005.

The 27-year-old’s previous major final appearance was to lose a two-set lead and be defeated by Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open.

“I was not prepared to take on my very first Grand Slam final,” declared Zverev who was who was the only German man to reach Finals in the past following Michael Stich in 1996.

“I’m certainly not a child anymore. I’m just an inch or two older. If not now, when?”

A German court has dismissed an appeal against Zverev for alleged assault on an ex-girlfriend on Friday, following an agreement on a settlement.

Ruud was hoping to win an eighth Grand Slam final, but the two-time Roland Garros runner-up was well far from his best and suffering from illnesses.

“I couldn’t play the type of tennis that I would like to play with a lot of intensity due to the fact that I was pretty limited by my stomach,”” explained Ruud. “I am not trying to come up with excuses or excuses however, it’s very disappointing and frustrating.”

Zverev fights back

A Norwegian seventh seed hasn’t played since Monday following an easy walk-through in the quarterfinals due to NovakDjokovic’s withdrawal from the tournament due to an injury to his knee.

Zverev has spent over eight hours playing on the court during the five-setters he played between the 3rd and 4th rounds before he defeated Alex de Minaur in the final eight.

“To get deep and achieve the Grand Slam, you have to face challenges and you’ll have to endure a lot of ups and downs” Zverev said. Zverev.

“You’re not likely to win the Grand Slam by winning every match in three sets straight. Certain players have done it, such as Roger (Federer) has done, Rafa (Nadal) has done several times however to be a winner of the Grand Slam you have to fight for it.”

Ruud seemed the younger of the two when Ruud raced to the lead with just one set.

However, Zverev did much better throughout the match, breaking two times and hitting 15 winners against only four errors that were not forced to even the match.

The break in game five of the 3rd set helped put him in the lead against Ruud, who was struggling. Ruud.

He tossed it around to gain a 2-1 advantage in sets, even though he briefly faltered by a series of double-faults, and then having to hold the break point.

Ruud went to the medical facility following the third set.

However, he was again broken in the opening match of the 4th. Zverev was on the verge of the final by allowing his opponent breathing room with a second break, giving him a 5-2 advantage.

He did not show any signs of anxiety, and he confidently served the ball at the first chance with a perfect.

(This story was not altered by NDTV staff and has been auto-generated from a feed syndicated by NDTV. )

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