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:
RAFAEL NADAL WINS THE FRENCH OPEN
“I’m happy for you,” were Ruud’s words at the net as he met Nadal.
This was a tough defeat but the 23-year-old will be back.
RAFAEL NADAL WINS THE FRENCH OPEN
Simply stunning. Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya said if the 36-year-old won in Roland Garros this week it would be the biggest title of his career.
It’s hard to argue. What an achievement.
RAFAEL NADAL WINS THE FRENCH OPEN
14 French Opens, 22 grand slams. Simply incredible.
Nadal puts his head in his hands, throws his racket to the clay and embraces Ruud at the net.
He lifts his arms into the sky and punches his fist, celebrating another triumph on Philippe-Chatrier.
French Open: Nadal 6-3 6-3 6-0 Ruud - Game, set and match!
The crowd are urging Ruud to avoid the bagel and make Nadal serve it out - but Nadal is in no mood for that. A backhand winner down the line sees the Spaniard move to 0-30. It’s relentless.
A forehand winner after scrambling back would have really topped it off, but he nets. You’re almost surprised when he does.
Nadal returns on the backhand side - another winner the latest stroke on what has been a masterpiece of a third set.
Two championship points - Nadal shanks a backhand wide on the first.
Now the second - and the backhand winner catches the line! He’s done it!
French Open: Nadal 6-3 6-3 5-0 Ruud*
It seems Nadal is winning every point now, Ruud is only managing to score on errors. It’s just majestic from the King of Clay, who is surging clear now and towards a remarkable title.
A delicious volley at the net brings up 40-15 and a forehand long from Ruud seals the hold.
One game away now.
French Open: *Nadal 6-3 6-3 4-0 Ruud - Nadal breaks
The winners keep flowing from Nadal, as the skies above Philippe-Chatrier brighten and the pace of his ball quickens. Both on the forehand and backhand sides, Nadal is whipping it past Ruud and surges into a 0-40 lead.
It’s harsh on Ruud, this match is already over, and the second break is sealed as he nets on a serve and volley attempt.
Nine games in row now.
French Open: Nadal 6-3 6-3 3-0 Ruud*
We’ve just past two hours of this match and yet it still feels as if Nadal is getting better. He whips a couple of lovely passing winners on the forehand side, in between a cute angled volley from Ruud, before coming up with a third winner to move to 40-30.
And the streak continues. Ruud set the point up well as he opened up the court but his touch at the net let him down.
French Open: *Nadal 6-3 6-3 2-0 Ruud - Nadal breaks!
It’s so tough for Ruud as he sees a forehand drift long and brings up another nervy 30-30 points. A forehand from the baseline clips the net cord as Nadal steps in to put away the winner.
Break point - and it’s far too good from Nadal as he steps into a short ball from Ruud and puts away the backhand winner.
Seven games in row for Nadal and the title is in sight.
French Open: Nadal 6-3 6-3 1-0 Ruud*
Five games in a row becomes six as Nadal holds to 15 with a comfortable hold.
Ruud needs to stop the slide now. The fact he lost his serve to lose the second set means his uphill task is even harder.
French Open: Nadal 6-3 6-3 Ruud - Nadal breaks to win second set!
Quite brilliant from Nadal as he senses the opportunity to finish this set off right now by stepping in and putting away the backhand volley.
Ruud goes long from the middle of the court and he now faces 15-30 against a rampant Spaniard.
Stunning. Nadal pins Ruud into the backhand side and then runs around a short ball to whip the forehand winner into the open space.
Two set points - Nadal gifts away the first as he sends a second-serve return long, as Ruud hangs in with an aggressive hitting to the lines and Nadal goes wide.
From there, Ruud is forced to save another set point as he finds his forehand across court and opens the angle, with Nadal netting on the slide.
But it’s brilliant from Nadal, who if left a window from Ruud for the forehand pass and makes it superbly down the line.
Set point, number four - and this time Ruud cracks with a double fault. That is tough, but Nadal has come flying back to win five games in a row and take the second set.
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