Summary: Once again, Rafael Nadal is the king of Paris. The Spaniard won a one-sided final in just 2:18 hours, temporarily playing Ruud against the wall. At times the Norwegian seemed simply overwhelmed, but in the end he was no opponent for the record winner of Roland Garros.
6: 3, 6: 3, 6: 0: And that’s when it happened. A backhand longline makes everything clear. Rafael Nadal is once again the king of Paris.
6:3, 6:3, 5:0: A misplaced forehand from Ruud, and Nadal serves to win the match.
6:3, 6:3, 4:0: A backhand cross and Nadal has three break points. Then Ruud misplaces a backhand and it’s 0:4 from the Norwegian’s point of view. This is currently something of a demonstration.
6:3, 6:3, 3:0: Rafa easily gets through his own service game again.
6:3, 6:3, 2:0: Break for Nadal. A backhand winner makes everything clear. Ruud was previously unlucky with the edge of the net again. It’s just a class difference here.
6:3, 6:3, 1:0: It goes the same way. Nadal seems to have everything under control now. Ruud only reacts, if at all. That’s just not enough at the top.
Summary 2nd sentence: What initially looked promising for Ruud quickly developed back into the Nadal show: The Spaniard also benefited from the many mistakes made by his opponent, who acted too imprecisely and whose lack of experience was perhaps noticeable. This can now run very quickly.
6:3, 6:3: Rafael Nadal is one set away from his 14th French Open title. Significant: Ruud gives up his service game with a double fault.
6:3, 5:3: From Ruud’s point of view, this is happening far too quickly. The Norwegian is currently unable to find any means and is beside himself. And Nadal plays his tennis, mercilessly. The Norwegian now serves against losing the set.
6:3, 4:3: Next break for the Spaniard. Ruud’s backhand longline jumps off the net, and at the next rally Nadal adds a forehand winner. And Ruud makes the next mistake.
6:3, 3:3: Nadal is back. There’s that powerful game from the beginning of the match again. Ruud despairs because he is actually the better player at the moment, but not determined enough.
6:3, 2:3: But the Norwegian lets the Spaniard come back, those are big chances he’s missing here. A cross from Ruud lands on the side, Nadal has his break and clenches his fist to the cheers of the audience.
6:3, 1:3: Nadal is now visibly stumbling. He puts a backhand into the net at close range, then Ruud counters with a slice, Nadal cannot answer here either, and Ruud has three breakballs. Then Nadal makes a double mistake and is 1: 3 behind.
6:3, 1:2: Ruud stays tuned.
6:3, 1:1: Nadal equalizes with a fine backhand volley. But Ruud comes in better now after he just had problems with his own serve.