Jannik Sinner bounced back after losing the first set to beat Tallon Griekspoor in the third round of the Miami Open.
But Ruud, a semi-finalist last year, stamped his authority in the tiebreak and did not face a single break point in the match as he beat the Canadian for the second time this year.
Chasing his 23rd Grand Slam, a frustrated Novak Djokovic was seen complaining to the umpire.
Casper Ruud returned to the French Open final for a second year running by dismantling German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev to set up a showdown with 22-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
A 55-shot, marathon rally brought fans to their feet in Flushing Meadows on Friday but nearly leveled the two men who lived through it, Norwegian Casper Ruud and Russian Karen Khachanov, competing in their US Open semi-final.
Carlos Alcaraz swatted aside a swarm of bees and world number six Alexander Zverev to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells.
Take a look at the five top contenders for the men's singles title at the French Open:
Within touching distance of Grand Slam No. 23, Novak Djokovic said he's in an ideal position to lift the record title in Paris.
Novak Djokovic also surpassed Rafael Nadal to make a record 77 Masters 1000 semi-final appearances.
Watching the clash at the Court Philippe Chatrier were movie stars Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller, Michael Douglas and Demi Moore and royalty, including Spain's King Felipe VI, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
Novak Djokovic will prepare for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title by representing Serbia at the United Cup mixed team tournament while old rival Rafael Nadal and former women's world number one Naomi Osaka return at Brisbane after time away.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the Wimbledon Championships, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Thursday.
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz beat Norway's Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 in the men's singles final at the US Open on Sunday to win his maiden Grand Slam title and rise to world number one for the first time.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz faces a potential quarter-final clash with old foe Jannik Sinner in his US Open title defence, and American Coco Gauff is on a collision course with defending champion Iga Swiatek on the women's side.
Norway's Casper Ruud harnessed his mighty forehand to reach his second Grand Slam final this year by beating Russia's Karen Khachanov 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 at the US Open, keeping alive his hopes of reaching the top of the world rankings.
Norwegian Casper Rudd is the first tennis player from his country to reach the final of any Grand Slam.
The Spaniard needed less than 90 minutes to dispatch the 23rd seed from Italy
18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz earned his first ATP Masters 1000 crown
Alexander Zverev continued to rebuild his confidence on clay with a straight sets win over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in the Monte Carlo Masters second round.
With world number four Ruud already assured of a semi-final berth the match was in reality a dead rubber.
Nesco Grounds, Goregaon, north west Mumbai, attracted the city's top celebs last weekend.
Novak Djokovic's parents, wife and children watched him win a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title at the Philippe Chatrier court on Sunday.
Although Nadal has revealed that he has seen improvements in his hip injury after trying a new treatment, the question still remains: Will Rafa defend his title at the French Open?
Eighth seed Casper Ruud rallied from a set down to beat an error-prone Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 on Friday to become the first Norwegian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final and set up a French Open title clash against 13-time champion Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic produced a superhuman effort to subdue Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Images from Day 5 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
World No 1 Iga Swiatek overcame a strong early challenge from former champion Sofia Kenin to reach the second round of the Australian Open
Sabalenka overpowers Raducanu, Osaka falls
Novak Djokovic said winning a record 23rd men's singles Grand Slam title at the French Open was special given that it was always the toughest one to win for him.
Cilic had never made it past the quarters in Paris but has now made the semis or better at all four majors.
Holger Rune rallied from a set down and saved a match point to defeat former champion Taylor Fritz 2-6 7-6(2) 6-3 on Wednesday and reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals where he will meet fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.
The match marked world number two Medvedev's ninth win in a row at the ATP Finals and he improved his head-to-head record over Ruud to 3-0.
Factbox on Carlos Alcaraz, who beat seven-time champion Novak Djokovic
Nadal said he needs to stop playing for the foreseeable future to make a full recovery and return for what he anticipates will be his farewell season.
Despite all the trials and tribulations he suffered in the build-up, no one could prevent Nadal from lifting the Musketeers' Cup for a record-extending 14th time.
The five top contenders for the men's title at the US Open.
Novak Djokovic reclaimed the world number one ranking from Carlos Alcaraz
In the ongoing Monte Carlo Masters, Jannik Sinner clinched a hard-fought win as Casper Ruud crashed out.
'With all the foot issues, just turned 36, he adds his 22nd Major'
'Let's be confident, let's be positive and let's see what's going on'
