French Open player feud takes explosive twist: 'It's a big lie'
French Open semi-finalist Casper Ruud has denied claims from rival Holger Rune that he yelled in the Dane's face after winning their feisty quarter-final clash.
The Norwegian beat Rune 6-1 4-6 7-5 (7-2) 6-3 to set up a final-four clash with the resurgent Marin Cilic at Roland Garros.
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In a bad-tempered end to an equally volatile match, Rune was left fuming after questioning a line call that ultimately went his opponent's way, handing Ruud the match.
The Dane was condemned for barely shaking his opponent's hand after the match, and apparently shouting at his mother so she would leave the stands during the match.
Following his defeat, Rune accused his opponent of showing a lack of respect, by coming right up to his face in the locker room and taunting him about the win.
“He just went straight up to me and shouted “YEEEESSSS” right up in my face,” Rune said.
“You can cheer on the court all you want and be happy. I do that myself when I win. But that’s such bad style. Have some respect”, he added.
Casper Ruud refutes claims made by Holger Rune
Ruud, who is enjoying the best grand slam campaign of his career, hit back by accusing Rune of lying in the aftermath of the contest, although he acknowledged emotions were running high at the end of their three-hour encounter.
"No, what he says is wrong," Ruud said.
"What he says is really not what happened. We both were in the dressing room after the match, and it's obviously a huge dressing room. There are many players, so we were just in our own part of the room all the time.
"I took an ice bath, ate some pizza and listened to music before we went home. Holger sat in his part of the dressing room.
"How he creates the story of me shouting 'yes' straight into his face is just a lie. It never happened. It's a big lie. It's disappointing that he creates lies about me.
The match ended in a frosty handshake between the two players and Ruud says what happened on the court should have stayed there, rather than being dragged on in the press.
"For me it doesn't matter if he thinks I am a player who doesn't follow the fair play rules, that's not really what matters.
"That's his personal opinion, but to put out lies about me like this is not right. I really wish this is the last time he will do something like this.
"I understand that some players are more emotional than others, and I am as well sometimes. He is obviously someone who plays with many emotions involved.
"I am not surprised about that, but it's a shame that he comes up with all these lies against me and my family."
with agencies
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