French Open semi finals updates: Casper Ruud v Marin Cilic

Ruud is made to showcase some of his impressive clay-court defensive skills to fend off Cilic’s attempts to break straight back. A brutal one-two punch with a forehand down the line slaps away a break point and he just about survives from deuce to consolidate.

Is that lift off for Casper Ruud? He’s looked a tad lost at times but he finally makes some headway on the Cilic serve. Indeed, the Croatian helps with a dramatic dip in form and pretty much breaks himself on the second of three BPs with a horrendous forehand way off court.

How important will that hold be? Ruud looks overwhelmed once again as Cilic peppers him with deep forehands to hit back from 40-15 down and make deuce. Ruud’s box looks concerned but the Norwegian digs deep to claim a plucky hold.

Nadal's reaction to Alexander Zverev’s ankle injury in their French Open semi-final:

‘To see him crying is a very tough moment.’

Marin is on fire right now. He blitzes through a love hold with the minimum of fuss. Ruud needs to stop the rot quickly here.

That’s magnificent from Cilic. He’s hitting Ruud off the court right now. A scorching crosscourt forehand is a fitting way for him to break again and clinch the set in 43 minutes.

Casper, the No.8 seed and clay-court specialist, is in trouble.

The Cilic forehand briefly goes AWOL but he finds it at just the right time to fend off another break point and make deuce. From there the big serve does the damage with an ace down the T helping him to consolidate.

Well, hello there! Cilic unloads a series of ferocious forehand blows, sealing a break to 15 with a mightily impressive crosscourt return winner.

This match has been all about Cilic’s smash so far. It’s been wildly misfiring and does so again to give Ruud a glimmer at 15-15. The Norwegian glides a pass down the line to then make 30-30 before the Croatian is faced with another overhead. He takes it on again and although it’s clunky, he does find the winner. Ruud presses to deuce but an emphatic forehand and a big serve see the Croatian through the hold.

Marin has a chance to pose the first significant question of Ruud but slices a volley wide at the net at 30-30 after setting up the point with a wonderful, raking forehand to the baseline. Ruud gratefully takes advantage of the reprieve and slams down a big, wide serve to stay in front.

Cilic proves to be his own worst enemy as he blows two easy overheads before firing down a double fault. The No.20 seed finds some clutch serving to fend off break point and make deuce and then on another BP before a delicate flick at the net edges him through to safety.

Marin unloads a blistering forehand up the line to clinch the first point against serve in the match. He probes throughout an entertaining, ensuing rally but slaps a forehand just long. Ruud takes advantage by slamming down a big serve and maintains the early scoreboard lead with a game to 15.

Cilic corks a rather splendid forehand up the line before outlasting Ruud in a couple of high calibre rallies. The Croatian finishes off his own love hold with a crosscourt drive volley. Fair to say both players have settled quickly.

That’s the perfect start. Ruud opens with a routine love hold. That’s already in stark contrast to that first semi final!

Ruud will serve first.

It's good news as the slow conditions in the first semi-final meant it'd been on over three hours with just under two sets done.

The players are due on court from 18.00 BST.

Casper Ruud accused Holger Rune of lying as their French Open war of words intensified following a testy Roland-Garros quarter-final on Wednesday.

Check out our Exlusive with the Norwegian below.

The King of Clay appeared to be in trouble against Alexander Zverev until the German hurt his ankle and was forced to retire with the match already beyond the three-hour mark at 7-7 6-6.

Read Alex Netherton's report below.