NADAL-RUUD. Rafael Nadal wins a fourteenth crown at Roland-Garros this Sunday, June 5 after a one-sided final where Casper Ruud was corrected in three sets and 2:18 (6-3, 6-3, 6-0).
18:00 – The summary of the match
Rafael Nadal wins a fourteenth title at Roland-Garros. The Spaniard continues to impress on center court and crushed Norwegian Casper Ruud in three sets and 2:18 (6-3, 6-3, 6-0). The king of clay mastered the game when he was not in the best form of his career. The Majorcan won the first set six games to three after taking the Norwegian’s service from the start of the match. In the second set, Casper Ruud seemed to have finally embarked on this final when he took the serve of Nadal who had passed through his face-off. But the Mallorcan cut short all suspense by unbreaking the Norwegian and by winning eleven consecutive games until the end of the meeting. By completing the second set with the same score as the first set, the King of Paris prepared a third set that was even more one-sided than the first two. Casper Ruud did not exist and was corrected by cashing a bubble. Despite a more than mixed final, the Majorcan achieved a monumental feat by lifting a Grand Slam title for the 22nd time and the fourteenth time the Musketeers Cup. As for the rest, Rafael Nadal cast doubt on the rest of his career by ending his acceptance speech with an encouraging message. “I will continue to fight,” said the Mallorcan.
17:52 – “I will try to continue”, assures Rafael Nadal
In a long speech of thanks and congratulations for Casper Ruud, Rafael Nadal punctuated his monologue with a little encouraging word for the rest of his career. “It’s hard to describe all the emotions I feel. I didn’t think I could be competitive at that age but it’s a lot of energy. I don’t know what will happen in the future and I I will try to continue,” said Nadal at the same time as the ovation of the Philippe-Chatrier court.
17:47 – The Spanish anthem sounds
In honor of Rafael Nadal, the Spanish anthem sounds after this Nadal – Ruud. The Mallorcan has just lifted for the fourteenth time the cup of the musketeers awarded by Billie Jean King.
17:42 – “I know I’m not the first victim”, admits Ruud
Casper Ruud returned to this final but preferred to begin his speech with congratulations for his idol since childhood Rafael Nadal. “It’s a first for me here. But the most important thing to do above all is to congratulate Rafa. It’s your fourteenth title here and a 22nd Grand Slam title and today I understood what to play here against you in the final and I know I’m not the first victim,” Ruud confessed with a smile and a look at Rafael Nadal.
5:37 p.m. – The ceremony will begin
The trophy presentation will begin after this Roland-Garros final where Rafael Nadal will lift the Roland-Garros cup for the 14th time. The speeches of the two players are also expected and more particularly that of Rafael Nadal who could give more information on the rest of his career.
17:35 – 14th title at Roland-Garros, 22nd in Grand Slam
The story of Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros is exceptional. At the end of this Nadal – Ruud, the Spaniard won a fourteenth title at Roland-Garros in 18 appearances. He also gleans a 22nd Grand Slam title with two lengths ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
17:30 – Nadal wins for the fourteenth time Roland-Garros
Rafael Nadal bursts into tears! The Spaniard wins this Nadal – Ruud and wins a fourteenth crown at Roland-Garros in a one-way final where Casper Ruud has never been able to worry the King of Paris. Three rounds and 2h18 of play will have been enough (6-3, 6-3, 6-0).
17:28 – Two fourteenth coronation balls for Nadal
Rafael Nadal gets two match points in this Nadal – Ruud on the Norwegian’s service.
17:25 – Nadal flies away completely and is one game away from a fourteenth coronation
This Nadal – Ruud is definitely about to end. Rafael Nadal wins the fifth game of this third round and leads five games to nothing against a Norwegian who seems to let the match sink.
17:20 – The double break for Nadal
This Roland-Garros final reaches out to Rafael Nadal who has just made the double break in this Nadal – Ruud. The Norwegian makes a huge mistake on the volley. Mass seems to be over and the Majorcan is two games away from a fourteenth title in Paris.
5:20 p.m. – Three double break points
What a Nadal festival in this third round. The Majorcan gets three double-break points.
17:15 – Three games to nothing for Nadal
Despite a more complicated service game for the Mallorcan in this Nadal – Ruud, the Spaniard held on and led three games to nothing in this third round. Rafael Nadal continues to approach a fourteenth title at Roland Garros.
17:14 – Reprieve for Ruud?
Casper Ruud is trying to regain Nadal’s serve following the loss of his first service game in this French Open final. It’s 30-30 on Nadal’s face-off.
17:10 – Nadal breaks from the start
Nadal’s fourteenth coronation at Roland-Garros is getting closer and closer. The Spaniard takes the service of Ruud from the start of this third set.
17:09 – 30-30 on Ruud’s serve
Casper Ruud is already under pressure in this Nadal – Ruud. The Norwegian is 30-30 on his first service game in this third set.
17:07 – Ruud seems resigned
Casper Ruud’s non-verbal behavior suggests that the Norwegian looks beaten already. He shows no sign of revolt in this Nadal – Ruud and does not encourage himself on the points he manages to win.
17:05 – Nadal takes the lead
Rafael Nadal wins his first face-off of this third set without any difficulty. The Spaniard now seems to have completely taken the measure of his opponent in this Nadal – Ruud.
17:00 – Nadal is back
Rafael Nadal returns to the center court of Roland-Garros and will start serving in this third round of this Nadal – Ruud. The Majorcan is now one short leg away from a fourteenth title here on the Philippe-Chatrier court.
16:56 – Nadal is off the court
After winning the second set, Rafael Nadal left the court before the start of the third set which could see the Spaniard crowned for the fourteenth time at Roland-Garros.
16:54 – Nadal wins the second set
This second set of this Nadal – Ruud ends with a double fault from the Norwegian. Rafael Nadal now leads two sets to nothing against Casper Ruud and it is difficult to imagine, for the moment, any other outcome than the victory of the Spaniard.
16:52 – Third set point saved
Decidedly Casper Ruud is holding on in this second round of this Nadal – Ruud and has just saved a third set point after a long battle from the baseline.
16:51 – Ruud saves two set points
The Spaniard does not conclude the set right away. Ruud saves two set points on his face-off and will try to force Nadal to serve for the win of the second set.
16:48 – Nadal two points from the set
Rafael Nadal leads 30-15 on Casper Ruud’s serve and is getting closer to winning the second set in this Roland-Garros final. Things get complicated for the Norwegian in this Nadal – Ruud.