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.
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 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.
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.
The Spaniard needed less than 90 minutes to dispatch the 23rd seed from Italy
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.
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.
Novak Djokovic produced a superhuman effort to subdue Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Sabalenka overpowers Raducanu, Osaka falls
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
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.
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.
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.
Novak Djokovic's parents, wife and children watched him win a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title at the Philippe Chatrier court on Sunday.
Norwegian Casper Rudd is the first tennis player from his country to reach the final of any Grand Slam.
Nesco Grounds, Goregaon, north west Mumbai, attracted the city's top celebs last weekend.
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?
With world number four Ruud already assured of a semi-final berth the match was in reality a dead rubber.
18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz earned his first ATP Masters 1000 crown
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.
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.
The five top contenders for the men's title at the US Open.
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.
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.
Cilic had never made it past the quarters in Paris but has now made the semis or better at all four majors.
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 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.
This year's US Open runs from Aug. 28-Sept. 10.
'With all the foot issues, just turned 36, he adds his 22nd Major'
Swiatek is positioned to face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.
Alexander Zverev fough back to enter his third consecutive French Open semifinals on Wednesday.
The Indian team is staring at a heavy defeat in its Davis Cup World Group first round tie after conceding a 0-2 lead to hosts Norway following Ramkumar Ramnathan's loss to Viktor Durasovic in the second singles in Lillehammer, Norway.
'Let's be confident, let's be positive and let's see what's going on'
Nadal arrived in Paris with his own doctor to get through the tournament despite the injury.
How the winners celebrated on Day 11 of the French Open.
