Rafael Nadal's rival opens up: 'I felt confident, and then he broke me instantly'

10/27/2024 05:48 AM

Casper Ruud played back-to-back Roland Garros finals in 2022 and 2023, facing the ultimate challenge in both! The Norwegian faced the king of clay Rafael Nadal in the 2022 final and felt confident ahead of the duel due to the Spaniard's foot issues. However, Casper's positive feelings went away after Rafa broke him in the second game of the duel. The veteran took charge and controlled the scoreboard, using his experience and claiming one of his most desired titles. Nadal needed foot injections throughout the event, playing with no feeling in his troubled foot in what was the only way to take the pain away.

The legend claimed a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 triumph in two hours and 18 minutes for his 22nd and last Major crown, remaining perfect in the title clashes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Ruud used a favorable draw and became the first Norwegian in a Major final. He gave everything against Nadal in the opening two sets, but the king of clay proved too strong, taking them 6-3 and delivering a bagel in set number three, repeating what he did against Roger Federer in 2008. Chasing his 14th Roland Garros title, the Spaniard dominated with his first serve and faced only three break points, losing serve two times and mounting the pressure on the other side.

The legend claimed 55% of the return points and turned them into eight breaks from 16 opportunities, breaking the rival's resistance in the third set and producing a bagel in his penultimate Roland Garros match. The Spaniard fired 37 winners and 18 unforced errors, crushing the Norwegian's backhand and delivering one of the most one-sided Roland Garros finals. Ruud fought well in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes. Rafa took charge in the more advanced ones, taming his strokes nicely and leaving Casper without a chance. To illustrate his advantage, Nadal forged a massive 24-6 lead in the rallies with five or six strokes, overpowering the first-time Major finalist and sailing over the top.

The opening set is always important in the Major finals, and Rafa made sure to kick off the duel on his terms. He held at 15 in the first game and fired a forehand winner in the next one for an early break and a 2-0 advantage, taking the confidence away from his rival. The Spaniard played a loose forehand in the third game, getting broken and returning the Norwegian to the positive side. Instead of building on that, Ruud sprayed a forehand error in the fourth game, experiencing another break and falling 3-1 behind. Rafa cemented the break with a service winner in game five and provided another hold two games later with a backhand down the line winner for a 5-2 lead. Nadal served for the opener in game nine and landed an unreturned serve for 6-3 after 48 minutes.

Casper faced three break points at the beginning of the second set, denying them and gaining a boost he missed in the opening stages of the duel. Ruud held in the third game with a backhand volley winner and made a push on the return in the next one, delivering a break at love after Nadal's double fault to forge a 3-1 advantage. Rafa took charge and rattled off 11 straight games, crushing his rival and sailing over the top! The Spaniard pulled the break back in game five after an extended rally and held at love with a service winner in the next one for 3-3. The king of clay denied the rival's game point in game seven and delivered the second straight break with a forced error that sent him in front. Rafa held at love in game eight with an ace and kept the pressure on the other side. Casper served to stay in the set at 3-5 and faced two set points after the rival's forehand winner. The Norwegian denied them and saved another, doing everything to extend the battle. However, Ruud hit a double fault on the fourth, propelling Nadal 6-3, 6-3 in front after an hour and 42 minutes.

Extending his run, Rafa held at 15 in the first game of the third set and cracked a backhand crosscourt winner in the next one for a 2-0 lead, marching toward the top. The Spaniard held at 30 in the third game and provided another break a few minutes later, stealing the Norwegian's serve at love and opening a 4-0 gap. Nadal held at 15 in game five, forcing his rival to serve to stay in the match. The 13-time champion made another push on the return at 5-0, painting a backhand down the line winner and celebrating his 22nd Major crown.

"I was pretty optimistic against Rafa, considering his foot injury. I was not too nervous before the match, feeling no pressure and entering the court with confidence. However, he broke me in my first service game and took those positive vibes away from me," Casper Ruud said.