Casper Ruud survives interruption by protester to book place in French Open final against Rafael Nadal

• Casper Ruud beats Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to reach Sunday's final against Rafael Nadal

• Cilic's surprise run in the competition came to an end at the hands of the eighth seed

• Semi-final held up for 10 minutes after activist ties herself to net

Casper Ruud reached his first grand slam final at the French Open after his match with Marin Cilic was interrupted by a woman invading the court.

The semi-final was held up for 10 minutes after the woman walked onto the court and tied herself to the net. The woman, believed to be a climate-change protester, wore a T-shirt bearing the slogan 'we have 1,028 days left'.

She strolled onto Court Phillipe-Chatrier unchallenged during the third set and attached herself to the net, raising serious questions about security at Roland Garros.

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo looked on as the players left the court while the woman was removed.

After a short warm-up the players resumed the match and Norwegian eighth seed Ruud wrapped up a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory and secured a meeting with 13-time champion Rafael Nadal in the final.

He said: "It was a great match from my side. I didn't start the greatest but Marin also played well in the first set.

"I was too defensive. I broke him in the second set and after that break I started to play some of my best tennis this year, serving well and playing aggressive.

"Marin is usually the one playing very fast, he was serving big playing well coming to the net so I figured I had to step up counter-attacks and go for some fast shots and it helped and worked out and I raised my level.

"I've been looking up to Rafa, the player I'm playing in the final. He never complains, he is the perfect example of how you should be on the court - never giving up and never complaining."

Casper Ruud v Marin Cilic: as it happened

08:32 PM

Ruud on how he found the match interruption

08:27 PM

More on Ruud's meeting with Nadal in Sunday's final

08:24 PM

Opta has an interesting wrinkle to add to that earlier fact

08:23 PM

Ruud will be the first Norwegian man to play in a men's singles grand slam final

An enormous achievement for the 23-year-old.

08:22 PM

Ruud has never met Nadal

But studied at his academy in Mallorca as a developing player. He has some lovely things to say about his soon-to-be opponent in his post-match:

08:15 PM

RUUD WINS: Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 2-6 Ruud* (*denotes server)

A ball from Cilic hangs in the air forever, before dropping down neatly in front of Ruud for him to thwack across court. Cilic's next shot flies long, and Cilic looks fresh and zippy, as if ready to play 30, not 3 match points.

He wins cleanly, and Casper Ruud is through to his first grand slam final!

08:12 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 2-5 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic, cheek smeared with red clay, look worn out but holds his nerve to go 30-0 on his service game. But his first attempt to wrongfoot Cilic goes awry, as a carefully played drop shot is treated too tenderly, coming to rest in the net. Cilic capitalises on Ruud's fault, then pulls out an ace.

Down, but not out.

08:09 PM

Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 1-5 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Another ace from Ruud where it counts - he's 40 love up before Cilic can ever ease into the game. The Croatian has a chance when Ruud's backhand loops down into the net, but Ruud is raring to go now, and closes out the game with a squared shot that whistles past Cilic.

08:06 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 1-4 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic is playing in a slightly unspooled way, as the avoidable errors stack up. By contrast, Ruud is playing fewer and fewer, having got a real handle on the semi-final, in part through a strong service game. Cilic hits into the net, and Ruud has triple break point on a more-than important game.

Ruud plays his first chance long, but Cilic nets shortly after, giving Ruud the insurance break needed to move him into safer territory in the fourth set.

08:02 PM

Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 1-3 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic makes his 50th unforced error of the match with a shot which just hits the wrong side of the sideline. Ruud pulls ahead with an ace, and wins the game to love. Anything Cilic can do, and so on.

07:58 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 1-2 Ruud (*denotes server)

A nice, spinning serve by Cilic gives Ruud a laboured return, which Cilic can strike nicely cross-court out of harm's way. He plays with earlier confidence, and wins the game to love.

07:55 PM

Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 0-2 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic is demonic at the net, popping a volley cross-court to leave Cilic in the lurch at the baseline, but his earlier flourishes are finding the net or straying out more and more. Ruud is able to read Cilic better too, guiding a drop shot just over the net where Cilic can't reach it.

Ruud wins his serve quickly, eyes half-fixed on a final against Nadal.

07:52 PM

Fourth set: Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 0-1 Ruud (*denotes server)

Ruud sends a simple shot too hard out on the forehand as Cilic nips ahead in the opening game of the fourth set. The Norwegian sneaks a controlled ball around Cilic with a tap after sliding into the net, and gains the advantage when Cilic nets a volley at the tail-end of one of the rallies Cilic was winning with ease in the first set.

Tucking a long shot just on to the baseline, Ruud breaks Cilic with flair.

07:47 PM

Ruud finds a greater consistency in the match as he takes the lead

07:45 PM

The earlier eviction on Philippe-Chatrier

07:44 PM

Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Serving for the set, Ruud quickly falls victim to one of Cilic's impossible corner shots. He begins pressing Cilic, using his own aggression against the Croatian to move him around at the back of the court, and forces him to net his final shot of the point. Cilic doggedly follows the server to deuce, and Ruud loses concentration, letting his opponent take the advantage he had taken first.

Ruud wins back the advantage, his third set point, and takes the lead, two sets to one.

07:36 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 2-5 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic strokes a gentle forward over the net high up the court which Ruud overthinks and plays out. He looks to onto his serve with a well-placed ball to the left-hand corner, but it goes just wide. His next effort at a winner comes off, with Ruud overhitting.

07:33 PM

Concerning scenes for the Roland Garros security team

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07:32 PM

Re-started third set: Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 1-5 Ruud* (*denotes server)

The delay looked more likely to favour Cilic, but we'll see how the re-start pans out in full. The players were at 15 all, and Cilic draws first blood upon their return. Ruud, pressed into a corner by Cilic, hits long, giving Cilic double break point.

Cilic gifts Ruud the leveller, sending a drifting shot long to make it deuce, and Ruud continues his run to hold his serve.

07:23 PM

Update on the break in play

Apparently, the protestor has been unclipped, and the players are due back on court. They're refreshing the court, and we should be on the brink of a re-start.

07:21 PM

GAME INTERRUPTION: Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 1-4 Ruud* (*denotes server)

A look at the protestor, who has tied themselves by the neck to the net, to the dismay of the crowd and the players.

07:17 PM

GAME INTERRUPTION: Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 1-4 Ruud* (*denotes server)

The protestor, an environmentalist, has cuffed herself to the net. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo watches from the sidelines.

The players head off court, to a cacophony of boos.

07:15 PM

GAME INTERRUPTION: Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 1-4 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Ruud shoots a spellbinding winner down the lefthand line, which Cilic can barely believe stays in.

But the big news is that the match is then interrupted by a protestor, who kneels next to the net. The camera cuts away before I can tell what they might be protesting. We can see the outside of Philippe-Chatrier, but hear the boos from within.

07:11 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 1-4 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic punishes Ruud for a wild lob which somehow stays in by squaring his response in at pace. He stays the course, and wins the game. He looks back at his team again, but doesn't remonstrate loudly this time.

07:08 PM

Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 0-4 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic is loosing his cool significantly, shouting up to his team more and more. Ruud pulls another ace out of the bag to bring him to 40 love, then calmly wraps up the set, leaving Cilic to rely on his service game to bring the set under his control.

07:04 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 0-3 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic is now the contemplative one, lost in his thoughts as the momentum has shifted. He fires back with another of those inconsistent smashes, this one bulleting past Ruud and thankfully, staying in. He watches and wait as a high shot of Ruud's flies out, and then again as Ruud feeds a shot from the back of the court into the net.

Cilic gets a time violation ahead of his serve, but this in no way speeds him up as he bounces the ball repeatedly on Ruud's advantage. Ruud squanders two break points, but holds firm to break Cilic after the game's fourth deuce.

06:54 PM

Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 0-2 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Ruud finds a fantastic angle to pop a forehand post an immobile Cilic, and holds his serve to love after pulling out another ace at game point.

06:51 PM

Third set: Cilic* 6-3, 4-6, 0-1 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic tries to keep the game as open as possible, sending Ruud to its extremities before hitting hard into the opposite corner. Ruud queries mark of Cilic's with the umpire, who helps Cilic hold onto his lead, until he hit his next shot too long. He tempts fate leaping up for a smash, which goes out, and Ruud is on break point.

Ruud comes in too close in an attempt to anticipate Cilic's next shot, but Cilic calmly sends the ball right back to where it was previously, bringing the pair to deuce. Ruud edges ahead after a testing rally which ends when Cilic leaves a ball to go out, which goes in. He's fired up for the first time, control ruffled.

Ruud breaks Cilic and takes the first game of the third set.

06:41 PM

Cilic 6-3, 4-6 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic, placement firmly under his control, targets the back right corner and finds it with a bouncing winner. Cilic shoots to 40 love, and looks to break until Ruud sends a sparkling forehead just inside the sideline on Cilic's backhand. Cilic nets, and Ruud should see off the set here. Now that we've seen his aces...

He wins instead with a punchy forehand high up the court, then he aces for set point.

Ruud plays a better five points than he's played in a run this match, and takes the set.

06:36 PM

Watch: Cilic seeing off the first set

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06:35 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 4-5 Ruud (*denotes server)

Instead of an ace, Cilic shakes down Ruud with a great serve-and-volley, striking him hard before whipping his response all the way past Ruud. His aggression from the first set finds an outlet in the second as he forces Ruud deeper and deeper, until a high lob is sent out of play.

Cilic wins the game to love.

06:33 PM

Cilic 6-3, 3-5 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic gets unlucky after a baseline rally cross-court shot ends up just wide. Ruud aces for the next point, but Cilic breaks into the game with some excellent reading of Ruud's movements, wining the point with another of those dangerous forehand straight shots.

Ruud aces again, then again. After going an entire first set without one, he pulls out three games stuffed with them.

06:28 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 3-4 Ruud (*denotes server)

Ruud feels like the visitor on court, even with his second set lead, as Cilic confidently moves his shots around the court. He serves an ace which makes Ruud stumble as he reaches for it, and although his unforced errors have been numerous, his confidence in pulling off those would-be winning shots has broken up Ruud's hopes of finding a steady rhythm.

Called to the net, Cilic sends a straight ball squarely down the line, with Ruud marooned at half-court. Game to Cilic.

06:25 PM

Cilic 6-3, 2-4 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Ruud feeds his opening point into the net, but stays ahead as Cilic makes successive faults. The Norwegian serves his third ace of the match, then another, in an efficient way to win the game.

06:21 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 2-3 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic pulls Ruud up and to the side, before smacking his forehand low and sure past the Norwegian. He aces his way to 40 love, then double faults. In an attempt at craftiness, he powers a shot well away from Ruud at the net, but doesn't place it inside the lines. He's certainly playing with vigour, but Ruud wends his way to deuce.

Peppy at the net again, Cilic clasps the advantage, but winds himself up for a smash which yet again, nets. The smash-in to smash-out ratio can't be doing him many favours. But he wins back the advantage, and hits a game-winner down the line to hold his serve.

06:14 PM

Cilic 6-3, 1-3 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic opens his comeback by drawing Ruud in during the rally before squaring his return down the line well past his opponent. Under pressure, Ruud sends a return long, giving Cilic the lead at 15-30. Cilic moves Ruud around the court, waiting for the winner, but Ruud defends well before placing a drop shot just over the net, miles in front of Cilic.

Angry at sending the ball long, Ruud counsels himself, looking the edgier of the two despite his marginal lead in the second set. Another shot way up the court unsettles Cilic, giving the server the advantage.

Ruud takes the third game in a row.

06:07 PM

Cilic* 6-3, 1-2 Ruud (*denotes server)

Ruud benefits from Cilic's opening errors, pressing him deep and waiting for the Croatian to slip. A high forehand Cilic return leaps out, and gives Ruud three break points to play with, but when Cilic sets up the shot again, it bounces past Ruud and stays in.

Cilic sends his next shot wildly out of play, and Ruud breaks for the first time.

06:03 PM

Cilic 6-3, 1-1 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Allowing himself a brief celebration, Cilic clenches his fist and looks to his box as he sends another tight winner past Ruud in the deep righthand corner. Ruud responds with a snappy forehand straight down the line to evade Cilic.

After a prolonged rally, Cilic sends his closing shot long, as Ruud looks for greater control over play. At 40-15, however, Cilic brings himself back into the match with a ball at the back of the court which Cilic skids for and misses. Ruud seeks a quick reassurance from his box.

They go to deuce, which Ruud opens with his first ace of the match, and the Norwegian holds with a final ball which Cilic misjudges and misses. A good time to hold for Ruud.

05:58 PM

Second set: Cilic* 6-3, 1-0 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic sprints ahead at the start of his next campaign, and wins the game to love. It's the fifth game he's won in a row, and is looking increasingly confident.

Ruud has a lot to do on his serve.

05:56 PM

That brilliant Cilic point at 2-3

05:54 PM

Cilic 6-3 Ruud* (*denotes server)

The Croatian draws level with Ruud, breaking his rhythm again after sending a punishing shot straight down the line which Ruud doesn't attempt to reach. The same happens when Cilic ends a rally with a forehand placed delicately at half-court, which Ruud looks like he gives up on.

Gaining the advantage and playing for set point, Cilic rallies confidently across court hitting harder and harder until Ruud can no longer return.

Game and set to Cilic.

05:49 PM

Cilic* 5-3 Ruud (*denotes serve)

Cilic has a great opportunity to go ahead on his serve, and serves a blinder which Ruud struggles to return. When he does, the Croatian can dispatch him with a simple smash. He misses the opportunity to go ahead with a too-high forehand that shows no hope of dropping into play, but draws level with Ruud after he strikes long after a tireless backhand rally.

Ruud buckles in the face of Cilic's splashy, aggressive play, sending another ball long to hand Cilic the game.

05:42 PM

Cilic 4-3 Ruud* (*denotes server)

A little bit of a pattern developing for Cilic, involving a strong start, followed by an unforced error. After netting the ball unnecessarily, Cilic keeps a cool head and pushes on, delivering an aggressive cross-court forehand to deliver the first break of serve in the match.

Cilic wins the game.

05:39 PM

Cilic* 3-3 Ruud (*denotes server)

After setting up a towering smash, which Ruud gamely returns, Cilic gently strokes his response cross court and way out of Ruud's clutches. After going ahead with a completed smash, after floundering the two in the previous game, Cilic nets a smash again. He redeems himself with a bouncy straight shot which Ruud can't move for.

Ruud beats Cilic at the net in a show of lightning quickness, but with a successful smash (ball coming just off the frame) and fast, aggressive forehand, Cilic wins the game.

05:32 PM

Cilic 2-3 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic plays a very nifty shot, feinting one way with his racket before powering the shot past an expectant Ruud at the net. He handles Ruud well in the ensuing rally, but a simple cross-court forehand doesn't make it over the top of the net. Neither does the next, but he's far, far closer, which might rile the 20th seed.

Another opportunity to draw level with Ruud goes awry as Cilic keeps guard at the net, sending a chip just out of play.

Ruud holds his serve to win the game.

05:27 PM

Cilic* 2-2 Ruud (*denotes server)

Cilic misses a sitter, a high smash which with only a little bit of manoeuvring outfoxes Ruud, but it goes oddly long, and he loses the point. It happened again with an overhead straight into the net, gifting Ruud too generously.

Then, the Croatian double faults. Three unforced errors in a game could be late-onset nerves in his French Open semi-final debut, but he levels with Ruud after sending him deep. His return ends up in the net, and its deuce.

At Ruud's advantage, Cilic sends a flaming cross-court forehand into the deep back corner, then aces him - his 69th of the tournament, nothing to be sniffed at - to take the advantage.

Cilic holds his serve after two break points.

05:19 PM

Cilic 1-2 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic is forced onto his backhand by Ruud repeatedly during the rally, and doubles up his grip only to send his return into the net. Cilic maintains the attack, however, forcing Ruud out of play on his backhand. Ruud sends Cilic flying around the baseline, and Cilic has stacks of responses until the last, putting too much power on the final shot and playing it long.

He stumbles on Ruud's next serve, and Ruud holds comfortably.

05:16 PM

Cilic* 1-1 Ruud (*denotes server)

A well-powered Cilic forehand down the line pushes Ruud to play the ball out, and the Norwegian is pushed into another error cross-court. Cilic has been playing wonderfully dominant tennis at the French this year - 88 winners against Rublev! - and this game is putting his controlled force on display.

Ruud goes the wrong way, expecting Cilic to send it to his forehand, but Cilic calmly smacks it back and wins the game.

05:12 PM

First set: Cilic 0-1 Ruud* (*denotes server)

Cilic's first chance to attack after Ruud takes the opening point with a poised forehand goes into the sidelines. Ruud powers through the first game with ease and minimal fuss.

05:02 PM

Here we go...

... Cilic and Ruud walk onto court for their match. A place in Sunday's final is at stake.

04:58 PM

Philippe Chartier roof opened

The roof was closed for Nadal vs Zverev but it has been opened for the upcoming match.

04:51 PM

The moment Zverev is forced to retire

04:41 PM

Our first finalist

Rafael Nadal is through to the final and poised to win a record-extending 14th grand slam after Alexander Zverev was forced to retire from the semi-final due to a nasty looking ankle injury.

12:33 PM

Good afternoon

Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of today's second men's semi-final, with Casper Ruud playing Marin Cilic for the opportunity to meet either Alexander Zverev or Rafael Nadal in Sunday's French Open final.

This is the first time that 33 year-old Marin Cilic will take to Philippe-Chatrier to play in a French Open semi-final, an achievement which makes the veteran Croatian only the fifth active player to reach this stage in all four grand slams. Cilic reaches this stage having seen off two top 10 players, Russian giants Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, seeded seventh and second respectively.

The former world number three also broke French hearts dispatching Gilles Simon in the third round, after defeating Marton Fucsovic, and Attila Balazs.

Ruud's French Open success, with victories over Hubert Hurkacz, Lorenzo Sonego, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - in the Frenchman's final match of his career - comes after a strong season on clay, which has seen the Norwegian reach the semi-finals of the Italian Open before going out to Novak Djokovic and win the Geneva Open.

But following his quarter-final win against Danish teen Holger Rune, tennis has taken a backseat to a building controversy between Rune and Ruud, with Rune accusing the world number 40 of gloating in his face after the 6-1, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory. In the aftermath, not only has Ruud denied doing so, his father Christian has spoken out on the issue.

Roiling family drama aside, Ruud's match-up with Cilic is poised on a knife's edge, with Cilic having ripped up the blueprint for French Open success throughout his barnstorming run. The pair have met only twice before, and Ruud has come away with the victory both times, but will he do the same today?

Stay tuned to find out, as we start the build up to today's second men's semi-final.