World No. 7 Norwegian player Casper Ruud complained to the umpire about feeling stomach pain during his French Open semi-final match. The match is currently in the third set.
The semi-final between Ruud and German player Alexander Zverev takes place today, May 7, at Roland-Français. Ruud won the first set 6-2, but then lost the second set to the German with the same score.
This year, the Norwegian won two titles at the tournaments in Geneva (Switzerland) and Barcelona (Spain). Zverev, for his part, won the Masters in Rome (Italy), which took place just before the French Open.
It is worth noting that in a previous match, which ended in her elimination from the tournament, Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka also complained of stomach pain during the match against Mirra Andreeva.
The physical toll of the gruelling clay-court season is starting to take its toll on the players, with Ruud's stomach problems being the latest example. The young Norwegian, who is chasing a first Grand Slam title, will have to deal with that physical discomfort if he hopes to overcome the challenge posed by the experienced Zverev.
The German, who has been knocking on the door of Grand Slam glory for some time now, will be eager to capitalise on any signs of weakness from his opponent. Zverev's powerful game and ability to raise his game in big moments could prove to be a significant obstacle for Ruud to overcome.
As the match progresses, the medical team will be closely monitoring Ruud's condition, and it will be interesting to see how the Norwegian responds to this latest challenge. The outcome of this semi-final could have huge implications for the careers of both players, who are both aiming to qualify for the prestigious French Open final.
