Year 22 of the era Nadal and 22nd Grand Slam in history. Nothing new in the territory of champion who suffered little to bite by 14th time the Musketeers Cup. In 2 hours and 18 minutes he got rid of the most outstanding student of his academy, the Norwegian Casper Ruud, by 6-3, 6-3 and 6-0. Nadal, who was the youngest champion of the tournament since 2005, has been the oldest champion since Sunday, winning it at the age of 36 and two days, succeeding Andrew Gimeno that, in 1972, he achieved his only one at the age of 34 years and 10 months.
The 112 victory in his favorite land, where the 14,800 fans had received him with a standing ovation and with their cell phones immortalizing the entrance Nadalwhile Ruud he prepared the rackets in his chair and listened to the cries of “Rafa, Rafa”! while the presenter sang, one by one, the 13 titles at Roland Garros, from 2005 to 2020. One more will have to be added next year to the tradition at Philippe Chatrier.
Apt Pupil
Nadal to serve Deathly silence and another ovation with his first two points, with the first game that he won and with the first ‘break’ (2-0). Ruud must feel like the beast that is going to be sacrificed in the Roman circus, with the King Philip VI and the minister of culture miquel iceta in the box For the two tennis players it was their first confrontation on the circuit but repeated dozens of times at Nadal’s academy in Manacor, where the Norwegian is an outstanding student.
Ruud failed to calm down with his first break (2-1), after two double faults from Nadal. At half gas. Without too much effort and little spectacularity. In 48 minutes, Nadal took down the first set after Ruud He threw the ball against the referee’s microphone.
“Go Madrid!”
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He was ahead Ruud in the second set with a ‘break’ (1-3), with a double fault Nadal, but the advantage did not last long for the Norwegian tennis player who delivered his next three serves and the second set with a double fault from the Norwegian. “Go Madrid!”shouted some spectators, remembering the 14 Champions that, last week in the middle of the tournament, the Balearic tennis player himself celebrated in the box of the Saint Dennis stadium in Paris.
The third sleeve did not have much more history. Ruud he had lost his little hope of bringing down the master. He surrendered and gave up the last 11 games in a row. The illusion of him being the tennis player who could knock down in a final in Paris will remain for another brave man, if Nadal returns to Paris, of course. Does anyone doubt it?