Paris, FRANCE – Head-to-toe Yonex ambassador Casper Ruud (NOR) is potentially just two matches away from becoming the first Norwegian in history to win a Grand Slam singles title after advancing into the semi-finals at Roland-Garros.
Ruud, a finalist in south-west Paris for the past two seasons, reached a third consecutive semi-final at the clay-court Grand Slam after the withdrawal of the world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic with a knee injury. Ruud went through to play the winner of Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Australia’s Alex de Minaur. Victory would take Ruud into a third Roland-Garros final in what would be his fourth Grand Slam final overall.
“Not the way I wanted to advance to the semi-finals here at Roland-Garros but very happy to still be here in Paris and getting another chance to play on Friday,” Ruud said.
De Groot looking for a 14th consecutive major
The numbers that Diede de Groot (NED) is generating with her Yonex racquet are nothing less than extraordinary. The formidable, seemingly unstoppable Dutchwoman was a 6-3, 6-4 winner over China’s Xiaohui Li, putting her into the quarterfinals of the wheelchair women’s singles, where she is hoping to win a 14th consecutive Grand Slam title and a fourth Roland-Garros title in a row. No other tennis player has achieved a calendar-year Grand Slam – sweeping through all four majors in a season – three times. Winning this title would put her halfway to accomplishing that feat for a fourth successive year.
Teenage star Oda starts his title defense
Still only 18 years old, Team Yonex star Tokito Oda (JPN) is the defending champion in the men’s wheelchair singles. Oda, who won his first Grand Slam title in Paris last year, defeated Dutchman Ruben Spaargaren 7-6(7), 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
Caser Ruud (NOR) | EZONE 100 [LINK] / POLYTOUR SPIN [LINK] / POLYTOUR PRO 130 [LINK] / ECLIPSION [LINK] / Paris Collection [LINK]
Diede de Groot (NED) | VCORE 98 [LINK] / REXIS COMFORT 125 [LINK]
Tokito Oda (JPN) | EZONE 100L [LINK] / POLYTOUR SPIN [LINK] / POLYTOUR PRO 125 [LINK]
