Nadal

2022 - 6 - 5

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NPR"

Rafael Nadal wins his 14th French Open championship — and his ... (NPR)

Nadal's victory came two days after his 36th birthday and made him the oldest title winner in the history of the clay-court tournament.

You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. If you click “Agree and Continue” below, you acknowledge that your cookie choices in those tools will be respected and that you otherwise agree to the use of cookies on NPR’s sites. NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites (together, “cookies”) to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Rafael Nadal, Looking Unbeatable, Wins 14th French Open Title (The New York Times)

Nadal extended his men's singles record of 22 Grand Slam titles with a win in straight sets over Casper Ruud.

His one genuine surge came at the start of the second set, when he broke Nadal’s serve again to take a 3-1 lead but at 30-30 in the next game, Ruud lined up an inside-out forehand and perhaps sensing that excellence was required, went for just too much and missed. Nadal was not at his best early and was at times far from his best: losing his serve in the third game with two double faults and an off-rhythm forehand unforced error into the middle of the net. That forced Nadal to take another extended break and miss most of the clay-court season before returning in Madrid last month. And there was Nadal, with his extreme topspin forehand and hard-wired combativeness. He certainly looked ready for more against Ruud, picking up speed and precision as the match progressed. That was before the final, and on Sunday afternoon after it was over in a hurry, Ruud made it clear in his runner-up speech his that he had not changed his mind. So many records. It just means a lot of energy to try to keep going.” “It means a lot to me, means everything. Carlos Alcaraz, a young Spaniard, seemed to be rising like a rocket. Nadal’s tone of late has been valedictory: he has repeatedly referred to the possibility that he could be playing his final French Open. But after slamming the door on Ruud on Sunday and then hugging him at the net, Nadal made it clear that this was not going to be the tennis equivalent of a walk-off grand slam. Novak Djokovic appeared to be regathering momentum.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Rafael Nadal defies time and Casper Ruud to win his 14th French ... (The Guardian)

Rafael Nadal has won his 14th French Open title, and 22nd grand slam in total, with 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Casper Ruud.

Ruud became locked deeper and deeper in his backhand corner, and most of the time he was unable to escape. Nadal missed break points in the opening game of the second set, and then double faulted on break point himself to trail 3-1. Under minimal pressure, Nadal eased through the set as the predictable pattern was established, Nadal laying waste to the Ruud backhand in the ad-court exchanges with his heavy topspin forehand. The outcome of his efforts have only reinforced what has been clear for well over a decade: as long as Nadal is fit enough to play freely, Nadal at Roland Garros is the closest thing in tennis to untouchable. Two days after his 36th birthday, and 17 years after first winning here as a precocious 19 year-old, Nadal has now won for long enough to also stand as the oldest French Open men’s champion in history, surpassing the 50-year record set by his countryman, Andres Gimeno, who was 34 years old. In recent years as he has edged ever closer towards the twilight of his career, Rafael Nadal has continually discussed his advancing age with total disdain.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ATP Tour"

Laver, Navratilova, King Among Stars To Congratulate Nadal On ... (ATP Tour)

Rafael Nadal made more history on Sunday when he won a record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. Stars from the tennis world — including Rod ...

— Rennae Stubbs OLY (@rennaestubbs)— Rennae Stubbs OLY (@rennaestubbs) @RafaelNadalis truly the greatest competitor and champion i have ever seen. Congratulations on your 22nd Grand Slam, your 14th @rolandgarrostitle, without doubt a magic number in 2022. Congratulations on this historic feat,— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) @RafaelNadal. It's an honour being able to enjoy a great madridista and honorary club member as the best tennis player of all-time. It just goes to show that hard work, passion, and a “never give up” attitude really goes a long way. 🐐 🏆— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) https://t.co/7q7FpqEzL7 June 5, 2022 #RolandGarros https://t.co/Z68xcNiUt6 June 5, 2022

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Eyewitness News"

Nadal defies injury woes to win French Open again (Eyewitness News)

Rafael Nadal was a doubt to even play at the French Open due to a chronic left foot injury, but the 'King of clay' ended the fortnight in Paris with a ...

"For me, it's incredible to play here," he added. PARIS - Rafael Nadal was a doubt to even play at the French Open due to a chronic left foot injury, but the 'King of clay' ended the fortnight in Paris with a record-extending 14th Roland Garros crown. Rafael Nadal was a doubt to even play at the French Open due to a chronic left foot injury, but the 'King of clay' ended the fortnight in Paris with a record-extending 14th Roland Garros crown.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "eNCA"

Rafael Nadal, modest warrior with iron will to win (eNCA)

There are three certainties in life -- death, taxes and Rafael Nadal winning the French Open. The Spaniard secured a 14th title at Roland Garros with a ...

He has 92 career titles in total of which 63 have been on clay. "Never underestimate a great champion. He is the best athlete I have ever seen in any sport," another tennis legend, John McEnroe said in January when Nadal collected the Australian Open. Nadal has Wimbledon crowns in 2008 and 2010, an Australian Open title in 2009 and completed the career Grand Slam in 2010 by defeating Djokovic in the US Open final, becoming the youngest in the Open era to complete the four-event career sweep. I am not an arrogant person." "Life is never clear.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

GOAT Rafael Nadal wins 14th French Open and record-extending ... (Independent Online)

Rafael Nadal won a 14th French Open and record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title on Sunday with a straight-sets rout of Casper Ruud.

However, Nadal roared back with a double break for 4-3. Nadal sealed the win with a backhand down the line, his 37th winner of the final. In a disappointing final, 36-year-old Nadal won 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 with victory coming 17 years to the day since he claimed his first French Open as a 19-year-old in 2005.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Rafael Nadal defeats Casper Ruud for 14th French Open title (The Washington Post)

Nadal, 36, won his 22nd Grand Slam title Sunday, two more than Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most men's singles major titles.

This year, keeping up with the rapid-fire volleys of the sport’s latest controversy added to that challenge amid deeply held differences over what constitutes fair play during a global crisis. In a sharp rebuke to what they viewed as discrimination, the men’s and women’s pro tours announced that they would withhold ranking points from all Wimbledon competitors this year. Here are some numbers to help digest what’s at stake for the so-called “King of Clay” on Sunday. Rafael Nadal did extremely well to neutralize Casper Ruud’s forehand, arguably his most dangerous shot, through the first few games of the final. Nadal and Ruud have never played, but they do know each other well: Ruud has trained at Nadal’s academy in Spain for years and calls himself a big fan. There have been some ugly, wonky shots through this first set, but Rafael Nadal hasn’t had too much trouble staying steady against Casper Ruud, clearly the more nervous of the two. He’s got a lot more climbing to do. The last time he lost a tour final after winning the first set was 2014 in Rome against Novak Djokovic.— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) pic.twitter.com/zb9bcUsLje June 5, 2022 But he finally clinched the second set on set point No. 4 thanks to a double fault from Casper Ruud. Such has been the story of the match: even with errors, Nadal holds a comfortable lead. Rafael Nadal is pummeling Casper Ruud on the backhand side on his serve to keep him out of sorts. He may retire, having twice alluded to the possibility this may be his last French Open. Nadal covered his face in disbelief upon sending a backhand winner down the line to clinch the victory.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNBC"

Nadal tops Ruud for 14th French Open title, 22nd Slam trophy (CNBC)

Nadal's victory came two days after his 36th birthday and made him the oldest title winner in the history of the clay-court tournament.

The two had never met in a real match until Sunday, when a championship, money, ranking points, prestige and a piece of history were on the line. He can now place this latest Coupe des Mousquetaires alongside the trophies he gathered at Roland Garros from 2005-08, 2010-14 and 2017-20. He considers Nadal his idol. The Spaniard's first triumph in Paris came in 2005 at age 19. He'd never even played in a major quarterfinal until now. Nadal also committed fewer unforced errors, making just 16 to Ruud's 26.

Explore the last week