24-Year-Old ATP Star Joins Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Others in an Elusive List After Creating History at French Open 2023

Almost every renowned sportsperson with an illustrious career shows signs of their greatness from a very young age. They tend to show glimpses of things to come in the future through eye-catching performances in the early stages of their careers. From Bjorn Borg winning his first grand slam title at Roland Garros at the age of 18 and Boris Becker clinching Wimbledon as a 17-year-old, to Rafael Nadal establishing his reign at the French Open at the age of 19, they set the tone for their stellar careers as talented young guns.

Currently, young Norwegian ATP star Casper Ruud is making a mark on the tour with his consistent performances on big occasions. He reached his 3rd grand slam semifinal at the ongoing French Open making him a part of an elusive club.

Casper Ruud joins prestigious list comprising Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic among others

Casper Ruud, the 24-year-old Norwegian has shown remarkable prowess at the French Open, by reaching the semifinal stage for the second straight year at the event. He got the better of Denmark’s Holger Rune in four sets in the quarterfinals, which happened to be a repeat of last year’s quarterfinal with the exact same result. With this victory, he reached his 3rd grand slam semifinal – French Open 2022, US Open 2022, and French Open 2023. This meant that he now entered an elite list of active ATP players who were able to reach 3 grand slam semifinals before the age of 25.

The list consists of players with immense pedigrees including the much obvious ones – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.

Apart from these three, Juan Martin del Potro, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev are also part of the list. After his quarterfinal victory at Roland Garros, Casper Ruud becomes the 8th active ATP player to join this group. He is scheduled to face another player from this elite group – Alexander Zverev in the much-awaited semifinals of Roland Garros.

READ MORE: ‘The End Is Near’ – 36-Year-Old Rafael Nadal Given Retirement Verdict With a Glimmer of French Open Hope by Casper Ruud

Ruud chases more history at Roland Garros

Currently ranked number 4 in the ATP rankings, Casper Ruud is chasing more history at the French Open this year. With a semifinal spot already sealed, he is looking to become the first Norwegian man in history to win a grand slam singles title. Ruud is now just two victories away from achieving this feat. And looking at his clay court performances over the last 3 years, he will surely fancy his chances.

Ruud reached his first-ever grand slam final at last year’s French Open, where he was defeated by his idol Rafael Nadal. Since the start of the season in 2020, he has had 86 victories and 9 titles on clay courts, more than any other player on the tour over that period.

With clay slowly becoming his forte, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him lift the French Open crown come Sunday. Do you back Casper Ruud to win Roland Garros? Let us know in the comments.

WATCH THIS STORY: Former French Open Winner Believes Novak Djokovic is Yet to Reach the Level of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal