Casper Ruud and Holger Rune clashed after their tense quarterfinal tie at the French Open on Wednesday.
World No 8 Ruud became the first Norwegian man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final when he defeated Rune 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
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In a match ended just before 1:00 am on Thursday morning, Rune looked frustrated on the court, repeatedly grimacing and shouting at himself and the umpire.
At one point, the Danish teenager yelled “leave, leave, leave” at the player’s box, after which his mother Aneke slipped out.
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Following the match, the 19-year-old said Ruud was “so unsportsmanlike during the match and talked to me over and over again”.
Cold handshake
“I didn’t want to give him a hug after the match,” Rune told Danish daily Ekstra Bladet.
Images showed Ruud shaking his head at the net after a cold, drive-by handshake by Rune.
(🎥@eurosport) pic.twitter.com/BQwjvQb5Rp
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) June 1, 2022
“He got a high-five and then I just had to get away from him,” Rune added.
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Rune claimed his rival taunted him in the locker room after the match.
“He just went straight up to me and shouted “YEEEESSSS” right up in my face,” Rune said.
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“You can cheer on the court all you want and be happy. I do that myself when I win. But that’s such bad style. Have some respect.”
Ruud’s father and coach Christian dismissed the locker room claim as a “pure lie”.
After yesterdays accusations against @CasperRuud98, he has a clear message to @holgerrune2003:
– It's a big lie. I hope it's the last time he does that. pic.twitter.com/127ORn1ELo— Eurosport Tennis (@ESN_tennis) June 2, 2022
‘Grow up’
And Ruud himself criticised Rune’s behaviour on the court.
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“I don’t know Holger personally, but I have seen on TV that sometimes there can be a lot of drama,” the 23-year-old Ruud told Norwegian daily VG.
“He’s young and new, so that’s excusable, but when you’re on a big stage, it might be time to grow up a bit.”
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Ruud will meet 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic for a place in Sunday’s final.
