World no. 4 Casper Ruud can not catch a break, even at his favorite tournaments! The struggling Norwegian has played only two good events in 2023, and Geneva is not among them. The two-time defending champion fell to an in-form Nicolas Jarry 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 in two hours and 31 minutes following a great battle. Casper won the opener before Nicolas took charge, taking the significant points in sets two and three to emerge at the top and advance into the last four. The Chilean fired 12 aces and played better behind the first and second serve. Jarry saved two out of four break points and delivered two breaks from five opportunities. They traded breaks in the middle of the decider, and Jarry secured another in the closing stages to dethrone a better-ranked rival. Casper survived two break points in the encounter’s third game and produced two fine holds to open a 4-3 advantage.
Nicolas Jarry ousted Casper Ruud in the Geneva quarter-final.
Nicolas hit a double fault to experience three break points in the eighth game and hit a forehand long on the first to fall 5-3 behind. Ruud served for the opener in game nine and experienced a break point. The Norwegian denied it with a forced error and cracked a forehand down the line winner to wrap up the set 6-3. Both players produced incredible serving in set number two, barely losing a point and offering no chances for the returners. Jarry opened a 4-3 gap with a cracking forehand down the line winner, and Ruud responded with a hold at 15 for 4-4. The Chilean grabbed the ninth game at love, and the Norwegian cracked an ace in the next one for 5-5.
Nicolas secured the 11th game with a forehand winner at the net, and Casper introduced a tie break with a service winner a few minutes later. Jarry fired two winners at 2-1 and moved 5-1 up after Ruud’s backhand mistake. The Chilean painted a backhand down the line winner at 6-2 to grab the set and introduce a decider. They served well at the start of the final set and reached 3-3. Nicolas earned a break chance with a deep return in game seven and seized it with a mighty forehand to open a 4-3 gap. Casper stayed composed and captured the third break chance in game eight to lock the result at 4-4 and increase the drama. However, Jarry broke again in the 11th game with a perfect forehand down the line winner and sealed the deal with a smash winner at 6-5 for a place in the semi-final.
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