Summary

  • Now: Casper Ruud beats Marin Cilic 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2 to reach maiden Grand Slam final

  • He will face Rafael Nadal, who advances after Alexander Zverev retires injured in second set

  • Zverev leaves court in wheelchair after screaming in pain after a fall. He later returns on crutches to hug Nadal

  • Nadal had been leading 7-6 (10-8) 6-6 when Zverev left court

  • Play was suspended for 15 minutes in third set of Ruud v Cilic after protester entered court

  • Nadal into 14th French Open final

Live Reporting

Michael Emons and Amy Lofthouse

  1. Cilic saves break point for deuce

    Ruud 2-1 Cilic*

    Nice!

    Marin Cilic goes huge with a serve out wide and Casper Ruud can't return cleanly.

    Deuce.

  2. Greg Rusedski
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Ruud hasn't had to do anything to get this break point. Two overhead misses and a double fault.

  3. Break point Ruud

    Ruud 2-1 Cilic*

    Well then.

    Out of nowhere, Marin Cilic double faults, and it's an early break point to Casper Ruud.

  4. Ruud 2-1 Cilic*

    Greg Rusedski
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The backhand side from Ruud has greatly improved. He will try to get the doubts into Cilic's mind and the more unforced errors Cilic makes the more his confidence will drop.

  5. Ruud 2-1 Cilic*

    Cilic makes an absolute mess of an overhead up at the net, smacking the ball well long, before following it up with a swinging serve.

    Huh. Another overhead ends up plonked in the foot of the net by Cilic and it's 30-30.

  6. Murray overcomes stubborn Nakashima - best shots

    Andy Murray into Surbiton Trophy semi-finals after Nakashima win

    Andy Murray reaches the Surbiton Trophy semi-finals after beating American Brandon Nakashima in a tight encounter.

  7. Ruud 2-1 Cilic*

    Some extended rallies going on, with Casper Ruud coming out on top as Marin Cilic pushes a forehand long over the baseline.

    Excellent. Ruud swings a serve out wide and shakes his fist in celebration as Cilic nets. Three comfortable service games so far.

  8. *Ruud 1-1 Cilic

    Wallop.

    Marin Cilic registers a love hold of his own to get his service game up and running.

  9. Ruud 1-0 Cilic*

    Greg Rusedski
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It is difficult for the players to adjust when the lights come on and it can take two or three games for the players to adjust.

    I don't mind the night sessions but the semi-finals, when they are back to back, should just be one ticket.

  10. Ruud 1-0 Cilic*

    Marin Cilic shakes his head slightly after whacking a forehand long for 30-0, and Casper Ruud rattles through an easy love hold.

    A reminder that you can listen to commentary of this match live from Roland Garros using the player at the top of this page. Greg Rusedski has joined the team for this semi-final.

  11. *Ruud v Cilic

    Casper Ruud will serve first.

    Ready?

    Play.

  12. Ruud v Cilic

    Casper Ruud leads the head-to-head 2-0 between this pair, but it's Marin Cilic who has the most Grand Slam experience.

  13. How did they get here?

    Ruud v Cilic

    And here's how Casper Ruud and Marin Cilic both made the final four...

    Casper RuudGetty Images

    Ruud:

    • Rd 1 - bt Tsonga 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 7-6 (7-0)
    • Rd 2 - bt Ruusuvuori 6-3 6-4 6-2
    • Rd 3 - bt Sonego 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 1-6 6-4 6-3
    • Rd 4 - bt Hurkacz 6-2 6-3 3-6 6-3
    • QF - bt Rune 6-1 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.
    Marin CilicGetty Images

    Cilic:

    • Rd 1 - bt Balazs 6-0 6-1 6-2
    • Rd 2 - bt Fucsovics 4-6 6-4 6-2 6-3
    • Rd 3 - bt Simon 6-0 6-3 6-2
    • Rd 4 - bt Medvedev 6-2 6-3 6-2
    • QF - bt Rublev 5-7 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-2)

  14. Ruud faces experienced Cilic in first major semi-final

    Ruud v Cilic

    Casper RuudGetty Images

    Casper Ruud is into his first Grand Slam semi-final, where he will come up against vast experience in the form of 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.

    Norwegian Ruud has recorded the most ATP clay-court wins since the start of 2020 (65) and ended Danish teenager Holger Rune's run in the last eight.

    Cilic, meanwhile, prevailed in a fifth-set tie-break against Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev to reach his first French Open semi-final.

    That achievement saw him become the fifth active men's player - after world number one Novak Djokovic and former top-ranked players Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray - to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams.

    Not bad company at all.

    Marin CilicGetty Images

  15. Ruud v Cilic

    Right then.

    Who will face Rafa Nadal in the final?

  16. It's not in the circumstances he could ever have wanted, but Rafa Nadal is through to yet another French Open final.

    We're going to take a short break - rejoin us at 18:00 BST to see whether Casper Ruud or Marin Cilic will meet Nadal in Sunday's showpiece.

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  17. Nadal 7-6 (10-8) 5-6 Zverev rtd

    A tweet from the Rafa Nadal Academy...

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  18. Nadal 7-6 (10-8) 5-6 Zverev rtd

    That result also means a change at the top of the rankings.

    Daniil Medvedev will become the world number one in 10 days time, with Alexander Zverev up to second. Novak Djokovic will drop down to third.

  19. Nadal 7-6 (10-8) 5-6 Zverev rtd

    This is the moment that the match was over.

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  20. 'I wish Zverev all the best'

    Nadal 7-6 (10-8) 5-6 Zverev rtd

    French Open finalist Rafael Nadal, speaking on court: "Very tough and very sad for him [Zverev]. He was playing an unbelievable tournament. He's a very good colleague on the tour, I know how much he is fighting to win a Grand Slam.

    "For the moment, he was very unlucky. The only thing I am sure is that he is not going to win just one but more than one. I wish him all the best and a very fast recovery.

    "It had been a super tough match, over three hours, and we didn't finish the second set. It's one of the biggest challenges on the tour today when he's playing at this super high level. It is difficult to say a lot of things in this situation.

    "Being in the final of Roland Garros one more time is a dream, no doubt, but at the same time, to finish that way... I have been there in the small room with Sascha before we came back out. To see him crying, it is a very tough moment. all the best to him and all the team."