Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud Preview & Prediction | 2024 French Open | Quarter-Final
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Novak Djokovic has spent nine hours on court between his last two rounds but Casper Ruud will have to play the game and not the occasion in this momentous opportunity.
START DATE/TIME: Wednesday 5th June 2024, UK – not before TBC / US EST – not before TBC / US PST – not before TBC
VENUE: Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, France
SURFACE: Outdoor clay
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Eurosport / US – NBC, Peacock and Tennis
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – NBC, Peacock and Tennis
TICKETS: Visit this link for the latest Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud ticket information
NOVAK DJOKOVIC – Three-time Roland-Garros champion
World number one Novak Djokovic played another four and a half hour marathon match on Monday to overcome Francisco Cerundolo, and a concerning knee injury, in five gruelling sets. Just as the 37-year-old did against Lorenzo Musetti on Saturday, a match that finished just after 3am, Djokovic won the first set before being pegged back 2-1 - although an injury suffered, or at least exacerbated, in the second set looked to be the main cause of another win by fine margins.
Djokovic is the defending champion at Roland-Garros after beating Casper Ruud in straight sets here in the final summer, taking a then 5-0 lead in their now 5-1 head-to-head.
CASPER RUUD – Roland-Garros finalist in each of last two editions
World number seven Casper Ruud has finished runner-up at each of the past two editions of Roland-Garros, to Novak Djokovic last year and to his idol, Rafael Nadal, the year before. The 25-year-old overcame Taylor Fritz in four competitive sets on Monday to extend his winning streak to eight after claiming the 12th ATP title of his career at the Geneva Open two weeks ago.
Ruud’s most prestigious title yet came at the Barcelona 500 in April but he reached a maiden Masters final the week before, beating Djokovic in the semi-finals for his first win over any world number one, let alone the Serb.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS CASPER RUUD PREDICTION
Novak Djokovic has nothing left to prove at 37 years old but he has always seemed to be motivated most by adversity. The inordinate amount of time on court he has already spent in Paris, as well as his poor form this season coming into the draw, and now an exacerbated knee complaint are all reasons as to why the world number one looks unlikely to defend his Roland-Garros title this weekend.
Djokovic, however, has made it his business to defy logic and the limits of physicality for well over a decade now. Casper Ruud will never have a better chance at beating Djokovic at a Grand Slam than here on his favoured surface, in his own strong form, whilst the 37-year-old is this physically spent but Djokovic should never be counted out completely.
A defeat to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open proves Ruud has a solid chance in these conditions but it would take his best performance yet to do so over five sets. Back Ruud to earn at least two sets to leave the result up to chance.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS CASPER RUUD TIP: CASPER RUUD TO WIN TWO SETS
NOVAK DJOKOVIC HAS WITHDRAWN FROM ROLAND-GARROS WITH A KNEE INJURY
