PARIS – Experience versus Youth. It’s an age-old argument that will be on display in the men’s final at the French Open on Sunday as Rafael Nadal put on Casper Ruud of Norway for the title.
Nadal will be the favorite to extend his incredible record-setting streak in Paris, but Ruud will make history as the first Norwegian to play a Grand Slam singles final in Open era.
This is all about 13.
That is the number of Roland Garros titles that Nadal has owned, and has beaten Novak Djokovic and Alexander ZverevThe momentum is there with the old Spaniard.
But he also devoted 13 years to Ruud, who fought his way to his first Slam final. At 36, can Nadal win again or will Ruud seize his glorious chance?
Why Rafael Nadal will win
🎙️ “A very difficult match” ️@RafaelNadal reflect on his semi-final victory at #RolandGarros
– Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 3, 2022
Because he is Rafael Nadal, and this is Roland Garros. The clay king is back in another final on his favorite court, and having won all of the 13 finals he’s played at Roland Garros, he knows exactly what he’s going to have to do to get there. win.
The way he lifted his game to beat Djokovic in another epic quarter-final show why he remains the best player in the world at this surface, above Court Philippe Chatrier, which has Extra room around the field allows him to create such incredible things the winners.
The pair have never played each other on the ATP Tour, but Nadal knows Ruud very well, having brought him to his academy in Mallorca a few years ago. The couple played many sets together.
When Nadal is playing Jordan Thompson earlier in the tournament, at one stage, the Australian shouted: “best player in the world and he still has luck”, when one of Nadal’s nets landed beside him.
And the 36-year-old will benefit from a three-hour semi-final against Zverev as the German picked up a nasty ankle injury late in the second set. If the game had continued – and at the same pace – it could have lasted five or six hours.
We never know what’s going on behind the scenes, but it looks like Nadal’s chronically problematic left foot has worked well so far, a near miracle given the level of pain. which he spent at the Rome Masters a few weeks ago.
It should be remembered that if Nadal wins, he will not only win his 22nd Grand Slam title but also be halfway to a Grand Slam in a calendar year for the first time in his career, which would make Wimbledon a temptation. , though he can still finish. instead, put your feet up.
If physically fit, Nadal knows how to get the job done in the final. It would be a big surprise if he didn’t.
Why Casper Ruud will win
🎙️ “It’s a dream to be in the Grand Slam final”@ CasperRuud98 talking about winning today and looking forward to Sunday’s final:#RolandGarros
– Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 3, 2022
Ruud is the first Norwegian man to reach a Grand Slam final, and he fully deserves his place, having started his campaign with a tough match against the French darling, Jo-Wilfried Tsongaand see off some of the more seasoned enemies along the way, including Marin Cilic in the semi-finals.
Ruud is also at his best on clay, as he showed in 2021, when he won four of the five titles on the surface, an integral part of him breaking into the top 10. world.
The Norwegian is calm on the court, and his tennis is equally calm, his thought process clear. The only contrast is the venom from his forehand, which can do real damage, as Cilic discovered in the semifinals, when 35 winners flew past him.
Although he will appear in his first Slam final and will almost certainly be nervous, Ruud has a demeanor that suggests he will cope. He also has an uncomplicated game, a good serve, excellent landings and great moves, which ensures that he won’t let anything go too heavy.
Furthermore, even though he doesn’t play Nadal in an official match, Ruud got the chance to see him up close, playing multiple sets with him in real life when he visited Nadal’s academy a few years ago. .
Ruud said Nadal “always beat me a lot.”
“There were some close sets, 7-6, 7-5, but it’s always been in his favor – but that’s because we’re playing in the academy and I want to be nice to him and to him. [win]“Ruud said with a smile.
There is a quiet confidence in Ruud and a feeling that he feels he belongs. There would be no better way to show that than beating Nadal on Sunday.
Who is win?
Legend First time finalist
The #RolandGarros The men’s singles final is over. pic.twitter.com/KOZWc2NkKs
– US Open tennis (@usopen) June 3, 2022
It’s just not possible to go against Nadal with any conviction. Chances are Ruud could live with him for a while, maybe even take a break from training, but the effort to do so would leave him with nothing. It’s Nadal’s to lose.
