Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud Head-to-Head Prediction: Italian Open 2022 Semi-Final

Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud: Their journey so far

Top seed Novak Djokovic is chasing his sixth title in Rome ahead of the French Open and has continued his top-class performance throughout the tournament. 

Taking on players like Aslan Karatsev, Stan Wawrinka, and Felix A. Aliasimme, Djokovic showed touches of class exemplified by thrilling rallies. 

Though the World No.1 has had a difficult start to his ATP season, from the Australian Open drama to being defeated by Alejandro Fokina in the first round of the Monte Carlo, Djokovic has come up against all odds to show everyone that he still has it that makes him one of the greatest players of the game.

His win over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliasimme guaranteed his World No.1 for another week and a top seed at the French Open.

Playing for the first time against the ninth seed, Djokovic took some time to read his opponent's big serve. Auger-Aliasimme showed grit and intensity against his 20-time Grand Slam winning opponent.

In the end, it was Djokovic, playing his 16th consecutive quarter-final at the clay court tournament, who won the match.

“It was high-level tennis,” Djokovic said. “He did ask me to raise the level and I had to play consistently well.” 

World No.10 Casper Ruud advanced to the semi-finals of the Italian Open for the second time after he enjoyed a run to the same stage in 2020 after defeating Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (9-7), 7-5.

The young player had a string of early exits at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo and Madrid but regained his high intensity and all action game at the Italian capital.

The 23-year-old has risen two places in the ATP rankings to No. 8 and will return to his career-high No. 7 on Monday if he should win the Rome title.

Ruud’s match against Denis Shapovalov was a tight match, where the audience were kept on their toes from the beginning.

“I think one of the most important things on clay is to put a lot of first serves in. Today was working well,” Ruud said. “I was serving well all match. At the beginning you are sometimes a bit nervous and excited to start, but after that I was able to calm down and find my tempo.”

Casper Ruud was able to save one set point in the first tie-break and then another on serve in the second set, before finishing the match in two hours and 19 minutes.

Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud: Head to Head Record

Novak Djokovic has a 2-0 lead on Casper Ruud.

Their last two meetings were in 2021 and 2020, 2020 being in Rome in the semi-finals again. At that time Djokovic won 7-5, 6-3.