French Open 2022 LIVE: Result as Rafael Nadal wins 22nd grand slam title by beating Casper Ruud
Follow for live reaction from Roland Garros as the King of Clay once again ruled supreme with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 over Ruud
Follow live reaction after Rafael Nadal defeated Casper Ruud to win a record-extending 14th French Open and 22nd grand slam title, in what is perhaps the toughest and most remarkable triumph of the Spaniard’s storied career at Roland Garros.
At 36, Nadal becomes the oldest French Open champion in history and his victory on the Paris clay comes just weeks after his participation in the tournament was thrown into doubt due to a painful foot injury.
It left Nadal admitting throughout his run to the title that this French Open could be his last and heightened the drama as he survived marathon matches against Felix Auger-Aliassime and then his great rival Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
Nadal progressed to a 30th grand slam final after his opponent Alexander Zverev suffered a horrific ankle injury in Friday’s semi-final, with the players still yet to complete the second set after three hours on court.
But Nadal recovered physically and the final was rather more straightforward, as the Spaniard used his experience to dispatch the 23-year-old Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 on what was the Norwegian’s first appearance in a grand slam final. Follow reaction from the French Open men’s final, below:
French Open: Nadal vs Ruud
And here comes the 23-year-old Norwegian, who gets a warm reception from Philippe-Chatrier.
It’s nothing compared to the welcome offered to Nadal, though, who follows his opponent out onto the court.
It’s electric at Roland Garros.
The stage is set.
French Open: Nadal vs Ruud
We’ve hit 2pm BST and we can see shots of Ruud pacing nervously inside the tunnel in Philippe-Chatrier.
What an occasion to make your grand slam final debut in, and a brilliant story too with the student Ruud facing the master Nadal after attending the Spaniard’s academy.
We should see both players emerge shortly.
French Open: Nadal vs Ruud
There are overcast conditions in Paris today for the men’s French Open final but without the same humidity that Nadal has played his two previous matches in. The roof is open at Philippe-Chatrier and there’s a bit of a breeze in the air.
Nadal on the verge of more tennis history
If Nadal wins a 14th French Open title - and he’s never lost a final in Roland Garros before - it would also extend his record for the longest span between men’s grand slam titles.
Nadal won his first French Open title 17 years ago today exactly - June 5, 2005. Nadal already held the record after winning the Australian Open in January.
Serena Williams holds the overal record at 17 years and 5 months between the 1999 US Open and 2017 Australian Open.
Ruud: Nadal has always been my idol
Casper Ruud grew up idolising Rafael Nadal and says their first career meeting in his first grand slam final has arrived at the “perfect” time.
“When I was younger I was too negative but I’ve also grown up a little bit. I’ve been looking up to Rafa, the player I’m going to play in the final,” Ruud said after defeating Marin Cilic.
“He never complains, he’s a perfect example of how I think you should behave on court: Never give up, never complain. He’s been my idol for all of my life.
“It’s an amazing final. He’s the last player of the big three that I haven’t played against. I guess it’s perfect timing and it was worth the wait. To play him in a grand slam final will be a special moment for me, and hopefully for him as well because he has played so many finals! At least he is playing a student of his academy this time so hopefully it’s going to be a fun one.”
Nadal said of his opponent: “I mean, Casper is a professional. He has I think a very good character to play tennis. He’s very relaxed, humble. He’s always in a positive mood about learning.
I think in the academy we were able to help him a little bit during this period of time, but more than another thing is about, as I always say, I like to see the good persons achieving his dreams.”
French Open win would be biggest of Nadal's career, coach says
Victory in the French Open final for Rafael Nadal would be the biggest achievement of his career, topping even his unexpected success at this year’s Australian Open where he won a record 21st grand slam, according to his coach Carlos Moya.
“What I saw in Australia this year it was beyond anything. But what I see here is through his own play. It’s a another size of resilience,” Moya told Reuters.
“I think it would be a bigger achievement winning the French Open today than the Australian Open,” he said. “It’s special if he wins. In my opinion this is the one that he deserves the most credit in his career.”
At the final in January’s Australian Open, Nadal, who turned 36 on Friday, came from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev and bag a second title there.
A couple of months earlier he was even considering retiring after a foot problem that has troubled him throughout his career resurfaced, forcing him to miss much of the 2021 season including Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open.
He had arrived in Australia underprepared and not in the best of health after also suffering a bout of Covid-19. But Moya said it was even tougher in Paris, where Nadal brought a doctor to get through the tournament despite the foot injury.
“The preparation for Australia was nothing, and here even less, but it’s clay,” Moya said. “Alright, so that changes a little bit. Things happened here that maybe put this on top of Australia.
“Of course he could have lost the last two matches. He somehow survived.”
Victory for Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid in the wheelchair doubles
It’s 10 in a row for Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid in the men’s wheelchair doubles!
The British pair defeat Gustavo Fernandez and Shingo Kunieda 7-6 7-6 to continue their remarkable run in the grand slams.
After winning calendar slams in each of the last two seasons, they’re now halfway there to a third consecutive sweep of doubles titles.
Nadal would take new foot over French title
Rafael Nadal offered an illuminating response when asked, on his 36rd birthday, if he would accept a new foot as a present, but on the condition that he would lose the French Open final against Casper Ruud today.
“I would prefer to lose the final without a doubt,” Nadal replied. “My thoughts haven’t changed. In the end a new foot would allow me to be more happy in my day-to-day life. Winning is lovely and it fills you with adrenaline for a short moment but life goes on. Life is much more important than whatever title.”
Nadal’s French Open so far
1st round: 6-2 6-2 6-2 vs Jordan Thompson
2nd round: 6-3 6-1 6-4 vs Corentin Moutet
3rd round: 6-3 6-2 6-4 vs Botic van de Zandschulp
4th round: 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Quarter-final: 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(5) vs Novak Djokovic
Semi-final: 7-6(8) 6-6* vs Alexander Zverev - walkover
More Paris heartbreak for Gauff as Mladenovic and Garcia win doubles
French pair Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic recovered from a set down to beat Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 2-6 6-3 6-2 on Sunday and lift the French Open women’s doubles title for the second time.
For Gauff, it was a second final defeat in less than 24 hours, after the 18-year-old lost in straight sets by top seed Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s singles final.
Reuters
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