Rafael Nadal is at the gates of continuing to make history in tennis. Three weeks after leaving the Foro Italico limping and not knowing how much longer he could put up with his discomfort in his left foot, the Spanish tennis player is one game away from winning Roland Garros for the 14th time, the 22nd major of his career, which would place him two above Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
The final against the Norwegian Casper Ruud, who will debut in the fight for a Grand Slam title, makes him the second oldest tennis player to reach a final in Paris after Bill Tillden, in 1930, when he was 37 years old. If he wins, Nadal will be the longest-serving champion at Roland Garros, an honor that currently fell to Spaniard Andrés Gimeno (34) since 1972.
The final between Nadal and Ruud will be held this Sunday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m. on Philippe Chatrier Center Court and will be broadcast by Eurosport. It can be followed through platforms such as Movistar or DAZN. The La Vanguardia website will offer live minute by minute details of what happens in the duel.
Nadal spoke about Ruud before the final. "I have respect for him. He is a friend, he has a great character and a great family. He is humble and relaxed and always has a positive mindset and is ready to learn. I like to see good people achieve their dreams and I am super happy for him." "said the Balearic.
Ruud reached the final after beating Marin Cilic in four sets in 2 hours and 55 minutes, five minutes less than the match that Nadal played against Zverev and that did not even finish the second set due to the German's withdrawal, injured (7-6, 6-6). Ruud is eighth in the ATP ranking at 23 years old and Nadal, fifth.
"Facing Rafa in a Roland Garros final is probably the biggest challenge in this sport. I think he is 13-0 in the Paris finals, which shows that it can sound like an impossible task. But, Of course, I will try as the other 13 people have done before me. Obviously it will be hard, "said the Norwegian after getting rid of the Croatian.
Ruud has broken all his ceilings in this edition of Roland Garros, where he was in the easiest part of the table and benefited from the elimination in the round of 16 of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, fourth in the world and finalist of the last edition, which paved the way to the semi-finals. On clay he is one of the tennis players who has won the most in recent seasons. Between 2020 and 2022 he has 65, more than any other player, far from the second, Tistsipas, who has 51.
Ruud often trains at Rafa Nadal's academy in Mallorca, advised by Uncle Toni, current coach of Felix Auger-Aliassime. He has won eight titles throughout his career, seven of them on clay, so he will be a dangerous opponent.
Nadal and Ruud have never seen each other on a tennis court. The most outstanding confrontation of the Scandinavian tennis player against a Spaniard this year was the final of the Miami Masters 1000
