Very solid, the Norwegian (7th in the world), finalist of the last Roland-Garros, proved intractable against the Italian (14th), winning 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) .

Aged 23, Ruud reached the last four for the first time at Flushing Meadows.

He will aim for a second Grand Slam final on Friday against Nick Kyrgios (25th), scarecrow of the tournament who had the scalp of holder Daniil Medvedev in 8th, or the Russian Karen Khachanov (31st).

Under the closed roof of the Arthur Ashe, the rain having set in for the day in New York, the cannon start of Ruud, very aggressive, combined with that off-topic of Berrettini, who accumulated unforced errors (40 against 23) , allowed the Norwegian to lead two sets to nothing after only 1h14 of play.

"It was my best start to the tournament. Everything was going my way and Matteo didn't serve as well as usual. I got a little nervous towards the end of the second set because things were going a bit too good. You think you can walk on water, but you can't," he said.

"A little surprised"

The Italian tried hard to start a comeback in the third set, managing to escape 3-0, with more winners.

Although cornered, Ruud did not let himself be fooled.

After saving two set points, he managed to regain the service of his rival, then fell back into his faults.

And in the tie-break, the Norwegian did not fail to end it.

Clay-court specialist, on which he has won eight of his nine titles on the circuit, including three in 2022 in Buenos Aires, Geneva and Gstaad, with in the meantime a lost final at Roland-Garros against the king of ocher Rafael Nadal, Ruud is taking a big step on cement this season.

"I confess to being a little surprised to find myself in the semi-finals, but I have really developed my hard game over the last two years, and my final (at the Masters 1000) in Miami in April proved to me that I could go far in big tournaments. I gained confidence in myself," explained the Norwegian, who also reached the semis at the Masters 1000 in Montreal in early August.

To the point of finding himself two victories from a sacred double blow in New York, since a coronation would ensure him to succeed Daniil Medvedev on the world throne, among other possible scenarios.

"The racket slipped"

Among women, Ons Jabeur (5th), finalist of the last Wimbledon, also reached her first semi-final at the US Open, beating 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) Ajla Tomljanovic (46th) , faller of Serena Williams in the 3rd round.

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"I knew it would be difficult physically and psychologically, especially with these repeated breaks and unbreaks", commented Jabeur, who showed signs of nervousness and apologized with humor afterwards: "sorry for my attitude , but the racket slipped out of my hand".

At 28, she will try to climb for the second time in the final of a Grand Slam.

It will be against the young Coco Gauff, 18, finalist of the last Roland-Garros, or the Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, irresistible since her victory at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati.

"I'm going to watch their game hoping they play five or six hours and kill each other!" she commented.

She more seriously stressed that her final played at Wimbledon this summer had "gave her confidence".

"I lost it, but I know since then that I am capable of winning a Major," said Jabeur, the first African player to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows in the Open era (since 1968).

© 2022 AFP