Rafael Nadal (ATP 5) did it! The Spaniard picked up his 14th title at Roland-Garros 2 days after his 36th birthday, the 22nd in a Grand Slam, easily beating Casper Ruud (ATP 8) 6-3 6-3 6-0 in the final. He now has 2 more major titles on his list than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
This 14th Parisian coronation is almost unreal. On the one hand, the left-hander of Manacor had to be satisfied with a minimal preparation on clay. Victim of a rib fracture in March in Indian Wells, he had indeed suffered from his chronic injury to his left foot in mid-May in Rome, where he was simply playing his second tournament of the season on ochre.
On the other hand, his 14th triumph at Porte d’Auteuil makes the mark of the former world No. 1 Pete Sampras almost anachronistic. The American, record holder for the number of major titles until 2009, had indeed won 14 in total! The feat is beyond comprehension.
Ruud had no weapons
So of course, Rafael Nadal is like a fish in water at Roland-Garros. A lifelong favorite in a tournament in which he has won 112 of the 115 matches he has played, he approaches it with confidence anyway, even with little preparation. But its resilience and resistance command respect.
Impressive in the quarter-finals against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal was far from evolving at his best level both against Alexander Zverev and against Casper Ruud, who paid dearly for his lack of relaxation. But he knew how to do violence to himself.
Rafael Nadal did not flinch to win his 14th title at Roland-Garros. [Michel Euler – AP]
Also nervous at the start of this final, Rafael Nadal only very rarely thrilled the public with brilliant shots. Only, Casper Ruud did not have the weapons to really bother his idol. Limited on his backhand side, the Norwegian has also committed too many mistakes to hope for better.
ats/btro
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A late break in the 2nd set
Casper Ruud had his chance, however, in a second set that Rafael Nadal started timidly. The double winner of the Geneva Open thus logically led 3-1 service to follow. But he failed to confirm this break. Worse, he conceded his next 3 service games to offer the 2nd set to his opponent. With 2 sets ahead, Rafael Nadal could see it coming. More serene, the Majorcan quickly took shelter in the 3rd round by signing a 1st break from the 2nd game thanks to a finally hard-hitting forehand. He therefore flew to victory, acquired after 2h18 ‘of play on a winning backhand.
Garcia and Mladenovic win doubles
The French Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic won the Roland-Garros doubles tournament for the second time after 2016, against the Americans Coco Gauff, already finalist the day before in singles, and Jessica Pegula, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Garcia and Mladenovic, who had not played doubles together on the circuit since 2017, reformed at the start of the year for the Australian Open (eliminated in the 2nd round) their victorious pair of the 2019 Fed Cup.
ATP Stuttgart: Stricker passes the qualifying pitfall
Dominic Stricker (ATP 199) is definitely at ease on the grass in Stuttgart. Quarter-finalist last year, the 19-year-old Bernese this time managed to get out of qualifying. The 2020 Roland-Garros junior champion won 6-4 6-3 ahead of the German Mats Moraing (ATP 116) in the second and final round of qualifying. Dominic Stricker will face the American Maxime Cressy (ATP 62) in the first round of the main draw. If successful against the 8th finalist of the last Australian Open, he will find in the 2nd round the world No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas.