Zverev, Ruud: A French renaissance

As Alexander Zverev tested every ounce of Rafael Nadal's clay-court skills for three hours and counting in two competitive sets of last year's French Open semi-final, Casper Ruud braced for a long night of watching and waiting to know his final opponent. "All of a sudden it ended his year. It was so unfortunate," Ruud recalled. "We're going to give it our all."

- Rutvick Mehta

That's because Ruud, like his 2023 Roland Garros semi-final opponent, has waded through a season of struggle to relive a renaissance in the French capital that gave them plenty of delight a year ago. Pain too, in Zverev's case. Then world No. 3, the Tokyo Olympics champion was playing some of the best tennis in Paris last year. Coming off a quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz, the gritty German was locked 6-7(6), 6-6 with Nadal when a nasty fall tore the ligaments in his ankle and transported him off Court Philippe-Chatrier on a wheelchair. Those scenes of anguish brought an end to his season.