Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud – Final – Preview & Prediction | 2023 French Open
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud on and what time does it start? Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud will take place on Sunday 11th June, 2023 – not before 14:00 (UK)
Where is Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud taking place? Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud will take place at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France
What surface is Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud being played on? Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud will take place on an outdoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
What channel is Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud on in the UK? Eurosport have the rights to the French Open in the UK
Where can I stream Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud in the UK? discovery+ subscribers can stream Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud live while the match can be streamed on Eurosport Player and Amazon Prime Video if it is televised
THE LOWDOWN
36-year-old Novak Djokovic proved why he is in the position to be targeting a record-breaking 23rd Men’s Singles Grand Slam title here with an assured, experienced and devastating display against Carlos Alcaraz. The Serb can regain world number one from the Spaniard if he wins this 34th Grand Slam final and claim a third Roland-Garros trophy of his career after wins here in 2016 and 2021. Djokovic will see this season as his best opportunity yet to claim that last, most elusive mantle of a calendar slam in the absence of Rafael Nadal and ahead of ever-improving rising stars like Alcaraz.
World number four Casper Ruud is perennially underestimated on tour but the Norwegian’s choppy form coming into Roland-Garros did not suggest he had a chance at making successive finals. The 24-year-old outplayed and then outlasted Alexander Zverev on Friday to reach a third Grand Slam final in his last five major appearances, overtaking Stefanos Tsitsipas and now just one behind the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka. Ruud is yet to win a title higher than ATP 250 level but he claimed his 10th of those, and ninth on his favoured clay, at the Estoril Open back in April.
THE PREDICTION
There are no new ways to describe Novak Djokovic. The 36-year-old is a devastating force of efficient pressure on court that quite literally weakens his opponents, including world number one and clear future multiple Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz – who cited stress-related cramping in his defeat on Friday. The winner of that semi-final looked the overwhelming favourite to go on to lift the title on Sunday and this combination, despite how well Casper Ruud has played, was the most discernible of the four possible. Djokovic leads Ruud 4-0 in their head-to-head record after most recently defeating the Norwegian at the ATP Finals last November, where he claimed his seventh and eighth sets from eight played against the world number four. Ruud’s one-sided defeat to Rafael Nadal at this stage in Paris last season was understandable in his maiden major final but this time around he should be more competitive and yet still probably lose in three.
Djokovic has won all four of their matches on straight sets, twice on clay and twice on hardcourts, to look the solid favourite here. Back the Serb to win in three to reclaim world number one and, for the first time, take the lead in the Men’s Singles Grand Slams titles race. Doing so will make him the greatest of all time.
