Ruud sees off Djokovic to set up Tsitsipas final

Monte Carlo (Agencies): Casper Ruud will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of Monte Carlo Masters after a 6-5 1-6 6-4 win against Novak Djokovic.

The Norwegian won a nail-biting deciding set against the world number one, who double-faulted on Ruud’s match point to confirm the result.

World number 10 Ruud will take on Tsitsipas, who beat Jannik Sinner 6-4 3-6 6-4 earlier in the day in Monaco. It was just the second defeat of the year for Sinner. Ruud cruised to victory in the opening set, ensuring Djokovic dropped his first set of the tournament.

The Serbian, 36, fought back well in the second set, dropping just one game to take the match to a decider. The third set swung back and forth but having got himself back into the game on serve at 4-5, Djokovic double-faulted on Ruud’s match point to hand the Norwegian victory.

Tsitsipas, a two-time winner in Monte Carlo, booked his spot in Monaco after two hours 48 minutes of play. The match swung in the deciding set when Sinner, who was on the brink of a double break at 3-1, saw an incorrect call go against him.
The line judge failed to call Tsitsipas’ shot as out and Sinner failed to stop in order to review the call, which would have put him 4-1 up.

The Italian failed to recover psychologically, and Tsitsipas won four games in a row from 2-4 down to seal his place in the final. “It was tennis at its highest level that I have been able to play,” said Tsitsipas.

“He is one of the toughest opponents I have faced so far and to find ways when there weren’t that many, I am proud of that. He gave me a very difficult game and [the] way I overcame it is true excellence.”