"Hopefully third time can be the charm for me": Ruud resurrects season with Roland Garros run as Djokovic in his sights

For the second year running, Casper Ruud will play in a Roland Garros final and a third major final overall after overcoming Alexander Zverev with ease 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 on Friday evening.

Ruud hasn't had the best season at times but shown exactly why he is a force over the past two weeks.

As a result even in his mind, it was about defending his points and he didn't think he'd get to another final with a one match at a time mentality throughout.

“I didn't come into Roland-Garros thinking I was the favourite to reach the final, not at all,” Ruud said. “I was trying to think one match at a time. Let's see how it goes from there.

“I'm always thinking about trying to defend this final spot from last year but, yeah, here we are two weeks later. Hopefully third time can be the charm for me.”

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But as he pointed out, it is another Big Three member this year after Rafael Nadal last year and he is under no illusion the size of the task ahead.

“It's going to be tough. Last year was against Rafa, this year against Novak. What can you say? It's two of the toughest players in history,” Ruud added.

“I'm just going to be the underdog. Like today, play without too many feelings, try to enjoy, smile. Novak is playing to be the greatest.

“Novak is going for his 23rd, I’m going for my first. It's a big difference. We will both give it all.”

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