ATP Montecarlo: Roccia Ruud supera le fiammate di Humbert e si qualifica in semifinale

After three years, at the time ousted by Rublev, Casper Ruud returns to the semifinals of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters by overwhelming the fierce competition of Ugo Humbert: surrendering after a little over two hours of play, with a score of 6-3 4-6 6-1. For the Norwegian tennis player, it is the sixth semifinal in as many quarter-finals played in the Masters 1000 on clay court.

The three-time Major finalist led the operations flawlessly until 2-0, with a break point and 30-all in the second set. Here, something in the usual mechanisms of Scandinavian massive solidity got stuck, and at the same time, the left-hander from Metz finally put into practice his game plan, made ineffective in the two lost fractions by the poor support received from the first serve: in the first and third set, he recorded conversion rates of 47% and 25%, while in the set won, he got 70% of points on the first serve. Ugo had 28 winners against Casper’s 24, and 6 more unforced errors (18 compared to 12).

Going to the heart of the match, the greater completeness of technical solutions of the Frenchman – Ruud only made 2 two-handed winners – was limited in efficiency by the mistakes in which the French number 2 hit errors in sequence that are to be expected, inevitably concentrated at close range, always playing on the edge.

Now the obstacle for the son of art from Oslo is Novak Djokovic, victorious – not entirely convincing once again – over De Minaur: they have already faced each other five times, always in prestigious events, three times on clay. However, the former world number 2 has never won a set in 11 attempts: but Nole has never been so beatable, at least considering the form of the Serbian in their previous matches.

7-5 6-3 in the semifinals at the Foro Italico in 2020, the same stage of the tournament and always at the Internazionali d’Italia but two years later: 6-4 6-3. The last direct confrontation in the French Open final in 2023: 7-6(1) 6-3 7-5 in favor of Novak. To complete the package, there are the two matches at the Pala Alpitour with the 2022 final won by Djokovic 7-5 6-3.

First Set: Ruud’s solidity prevails over the Frenchman’s range of offensive options

Ugo, to hope to overcome a tough clay player like Casper, must implement a significantly offensive game strategy, trying to vary the effects as much as possible and trying to make a difference with his left-handed forehand to try to trap the Norwegian on the left diagonal and then finish him off with a down-the-line acceleration. This tactical approach, if implemented with the necessary effectiveness and continuity, would bring immense benefits to the French player as it would force the two-time French Open finalist to play almost always on the run from the right side in situations of precarious balance with distance from the baseline and with the only remedy of retreating defensively. Naturally, to make this tactical plan a reality, it is essential to have an excellent first serve to control the point.

On the other hand, control of the point in Ruud’s hands and especially a medium-high length of the rally would advantage the 25-year-old from Oslo; if he can hammer with his cross-court forehands loaded with topspin, maneuvering the geometric score at will, he becomes a very tricky customer on the red clay.

In the first game of the match, Humbert initially goes up 30-0, then is partially countered to 30-30 before holding the opening service game without further suffering. The three-time Slam finalist is forced to face a deuce in the fourth game, after which the French left-hander again risks on serve and this time has to give up the break: the Metz native commits the first double fault of the match on 15-30 and with three total unforced errors gives two consecutive break points to the Scandinavian player. The first one is enough, as Casper pushes wonderfully with his forehand, moving the opponent like a puppet: 3-2 and serve in favor of Ruud.

The lead, despite the double fault from Oslo at 0-15, is promptly confirmed for a 4-2 Norwegian lead. The first set effectively ends here: Humbert then gives up the break again at 5-3, thus archiving the first set with a score of 6-3 in favor of Casper Ruud after 36 minutes.

Second Set: Humbert disrupts the balance with early accelerations, instantly extinguishing Casper’s confidence

The second set begins with Ruud in total control. Right from the start, the former world number 2 immediately breaks the French player’s serve, further dealing him a psychological blow by breaking from 40-15 with a series of four consecutive points won, and quickly goes up 2-0. In the following game, while serving to consolidate the lead, we witness the turning point of the entire set. The current world number 10 finds himself at 30-30 just two points away from a 3-0 lead, but suddenly loses his way. He starts making too many mistakes, losing his proverbial solidity admired until then. In contrast, as if it represented a perfect counterbalance of emotional and technical balances, Humbert begins to limit the unforced errors while at the same time being more present on the court to unleash his beautiful shots. Essentially, pushing and taking more risks. From the third game, a string of four games with a partial score of 9-1 in favor of Jeremy Chardy’s pupil and two consecutive service breaks lost by Ruud: even the second to zero with a double fault on break point to complete the mess.

The moment that unmistakably marks the second set is the sixth game, the one that allows Ugo to consolidate the break: by far the longest and most fought of the match. In the end, after 18 points and 3 missed chances for a counter-break – on the fourth opportunity at 4-2 – the world number 25 seals the decisive step to bring the match to a third set. Nothing more happens, and the left-hander on the court closes 6-4 in 50 minutes.

Third Set: Humbert has the warning light on, makes mistakes in sequence, and Ruud forcefully takes the semifinal

The final set is played in a very suggestive atmosphere lit by the Ranieri III floodlights, although the stands have emptied considerably. However, to make the environment even hotter, the French fans gathered in the Principality central court can be heard singing La Marseillaise. Humbert continues from where he left off: he continues with his champagne-style match full of constant anticipations, high-difficulty counterattacks, continuous accelerated attacks cutting the court very well to impact always on the rise and aggressive returns with great aggression. In summary, he is playing the game that best suits the characteristics of the Frenchman. Casper, on the other hand, must regain the consistency shown until the beginning of the second set and bring out a different incisiveness with his forehand, otherwise this version of a polished Ugo would definitively outshine him in winners.

In times of need, however, Papa Cristian observes how the little one always rises to the occasion; while, as is normal for a player like Humbert, who plays a tennis always exposed to mistakes, in negative performance phases he makes many mistakes by concentrating the unforced errors in sequence and in a short period. Therefore, Ruud breaks to 15 and the Norwegian serves to go up 4-1. At this point, we undoubtedly witness the most exciting game of the match: first Ugo wins the best point of the encounter, then he creates two break-back opportunities to get back into contention when he seemed out of it. Well, the first of these has an incredible outcome: the Frenchman hits a forehand finding the usual trajectory, an anomalous cross-court and a down-the-line shot right after. The 3-4 seems sealed, but Casper makes an unreal recovery that, with the inevitable touch of luck, ends in the very last centimeters of the court. Surprised, Ugo manages to get it back, but then the Oslo player with his forehand confirms the 4-1 lead. The game ends here, as in the next game, the 25-year-old from Metz with the reserve light now on, raises the white flag: the second Norwegian break (the fifth in the match) that gives a 5-1 lead.

However, Humbert wants to fight till the end, pulling out his last pearls and bringing it to 15-40, continuing to charge himself. But Ruud, with pure fighting spirit, returns to high-intensity play with his two sharpest weapons, turning the tables, and ultimately qualifies after three seasons of drought for the Monte Carlo semifinals: 6-1 in 40 minutes.