By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday June 4 2022
Mutual respect characterizes the Roland-Garros men’s singles final matchup, as 13-time champion Rafael Nadal is set to met Casper Ruud for the title.
Ruud and Nadal have never met on tour, but their relationship goes way back, with Ruud training at Nadal’s Academy since 2018, with his father and coach, Christian, and Spanish coach Pedro Clar.
The pair hit together frequently and have always shared a good relationship.
Despite the lack of match experience against the Spanish legend, Ruud knows how difficult it is to play against Nadal. He told reporters that he never manages to get the best of him in practice.
“Yeah, we have played some practice sets,” he said. “And, yeah, it's been, I don't know honestly, but he always pretty much has always beaten me. There's been some close sets, 7-6, 7-5, but it always goes his favor.”
Nadal is pleased to see Ruud reaching his potential in Paris, and he had kind words for his next opponent in press on Friday after he advanced to the final.
“I have a huge respect for him,” he said. “First of all in terms of a friend, he has a great character. He's a great guy, and he has a great family. Honestly, no?
“That's the main thing. As a player, of course, I respect him a lot. He did a lot of great things the last couple of years. He's the number, which number, 8? 7 in the world?”
Win or lose, Ruud is excited to have the opportunity to face a legend that he calls an idol.
“He has beaten me pretty much all the times in practice,” he said. “I will try to figure something else out than in the practices, how to beat him. Like I said, I will just enjoy the moment. This is a special occasion for both of us. He's playing for his 22nd. I'm playing for my first.
“Big contrast, but like I said, I'm the underdog and we will just enjoy the moment.”
It’s a rare first time meeting in a major final – the last first-time meeting in a Roland Garros men’s final was Gustavo Kuerten vs. Sergi Bruguera in 1997.
Ruud is content to take the underdog status, and hopes that Nadal will feel some of the pressure that comes with being the favorite on the cusp of another landmark victory.
“On Sunday I will be the underdog, for sure, and Rafa will probably feel some of that pressure,” he said. “So I will just try to enjoy the situation. But I know that I will have to play even better than I did today if I want to have any chance at all, because he's the greatest clay court player of all time, as we know, and one of the greatest all-around players, if you ask me, of all time. He has won 21 slams for a reason, and 13 of them here."