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Rafael Nadal takes on Casper Ruud in the 2022 Roland-Garros final
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Rafael Nadal is aiming to clinch a 14th French Open title on Sunday, when he takes on first-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud.
Ruud having trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca since 2018, the contest sits firmly in the master vs apprentice category. The Norwegian has openly admitted that Nadal is his ‘idol’.
A win in the league match would extend Nadal’s dominance on clay.
The 13 titles he has won at Roland Garros are the most won by a man at a single Grand Slam tournament in history. It eclipses Novak Djokovic’s nine Australian Open titles and Roger Federer’s eight Wimbledon championship triumphs.
Ruud is the first Scandinavian to reach a Grand Slam final since Robin Soderling in 2010 and should the 23-year-old triumph, he would become the youngest male Grand Slam champion since 2009.
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Nadal has a chance to extend his lead atop the all-time Grand Slam rankings with a 22nd major title
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Nadal secured his place in the final after agonizing scenes on the Philippe-Chatrier court on Friday.
After more than three hours of tennis playing against Alexander Zverev, and with the match at 7-6 (10-8) 6-6, Zverev suffered a serious ankle injury and was forced to withdraw from the match. .
The German third seed had pushed the 13-time French Open champion hard and really tested Nadal’s fitness and form.
“It was a super tough match, over three hours and we didn’t even finish the second set,” Nadal said on the court after Zverev’s injury and retirement.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges of the Tour today, beating him [Zverev]when he plays at this level.
“It’s hard to say much in this situation. Of course, for me, everyone knows that being in the Roland Garros final again is a dream, no doubt.
“But, at the same time, for it to end like that and to see it like that, it’s very hard. »
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Nadal entered this Grand Slam event with significant question marks next to his name, due to the chronic foot condition he lives with and the severity of his impact in Rome.
During this major, he made it clear that he does not know if any of these matches in Paris will be his last, as his level of discomfort is great.
Despite this foot condition which places both a physical and mental burden on his shoulders, Nadal played with his signature intensity and at a level few are able to match.
He has only lost three of the 20 sets he has played and as far as the French Open finals go, he holds a 13-0 record and hasn’t lost more than two sets in one.
Nadal’s tennis – from the back of the court and in attack forward – is imperious on red clay and his hunger to win makes him even more dangerous.
But, he will have to work hard against Ruud’s serve which has performed extremely well in Paris. Ruud delivered 52 aces, compared to just 13 for Nadal.
In the event of victory, Rafael Nadal (36) would be the oldest male champion at Roland Garros. If Casper Ruud (23) wins, he would be the young men’s Grand Slam champion since 2009.
Rafael Nadal is 8-1 against players trying to win their first career Grand Slam title.
Casper Ruud hit 16 aces in his semi-final against Marin Cilic. He produced 41 winners from 21 unforced errors and created 15 break points, converting five.
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Ruud is a former junior world number 1 and has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy since 2018
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This Grand Slam final will not only be Ruud’s first, but it will mark his first competitive encounter with Nadal.
“We played a few practice sets, and he still pretty much beat me,” admitted Ruud, who is the eighth seed.
“There were tight sets, 7-6 7-5 but it always goes in his favor. But that’s because we play at the academy, and I want to be nice to him! »
Ruud’s knowledge of Nadal’s career, and in particular his clay-court finals at Roland Garros, is extensive.
“I probably watched them all,” Ruud said. “I think I could probably tell you all the finals and who he played and who he beat, because I watched them all on TV.
“It’s going to be amazing to be there myself when you saw players like Puerta, Federer, Djokovic, Thiem, all the guys who played him in the final.
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“So being part of this group myself is something I can always brag about after my career.
“Of course I hope that I will try for the title, and it would be nicer to be able to boast of the title after my career.
“I will try to find something other than during training, how to beat him. I’m just going to enjoy the moment. It’s a special occasion for both of us. »
Road to the final
| Rafael Nadal | Casper Ruud | |
|---|---|---|
| Premier tour | Jordan Thompson 6-2 6-2 6-2 | Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 7-6 (7-0) |
| Second turn | Corentin Moutet 6-3 6-1 6-4 | Emil Rose Mountain 6-3 6-4 6-2 |
| Third round | Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3 6-2 6-4 | Lorenzo Sonego 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 1-6 6-4 6-3 |
| Fourth round | Félix Auger Aliassime 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 | Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-3 3-6 6-3 |
| Quarter-finals | Novak Djokovic 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-4) | Holger Rune 6-1 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 |
| Semi-finals | Alexander Zverev 7-6 (10-8) 6-6 Ret. | Marin Cilic 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2 |
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Ruud has won seven tour-level titles on clay, but none above the ATP 250 level. Despite this, Nadal is wary of his opponent’s skill on the surface.
“For me, Casper is one of the contenders for victory in every clay event he competes in. He is one of the big favourites. It’s not a big surprise at all,” Nadal said.
“I’m happy for him. I’m happy for his mom, his dad. I know them very well. It’s a super healthy family and great people. As always, I’m super happy when I see these great people succeed. » . »
Both men spent minutes out of 18 hours on court during their campaigns at Roland Garros. Ruud holds a respectable record of 18-6 in sets and Nadal has dropped just three of his 20 sets.
Ruud worked well behind his determined first serve and showed in his semi-final against Cilic that he could face a big chance. However, facing Nadal on the Philippe-Chatrier court in a Roland-Garros final is a whole different challenge.
Disruptions are a wonderful part of the sport, but if Nadal’s foot condition is as well managed as it has been so far, it’s very difficult to look past a 14th Roland title -Garros for the “King of clay”.
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