In recent years, as he got closer and closer to the end of his career, Rafael Nadal has continuously spoken of his advanced age with utter contempt. Although many see his silver linings in their maturity, he sees none.
Little by little he has taken away one of his great assets, his athleticism. It has made her body, which has already suffered too many injuries, even more prone to suffer. In any case, for 20 years he has approached his career with the same positive attitude, the same calm, the same acceptance and struggle, and in the process he has continued to work wonders for so long.
After a fortnight in which he was only able to call up his best tennis when he desperately needed it, Nadal separated Casper Ruud even in the absence of his top level for much of the match, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6. -0 to win a 14th French Open title with a remarkable record.
Nadal has also expanded his men’s Grand Slam record to 22, creating a notable difference between him and his two big rivals, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who both hold 20 major titles.
Two days after his 36th birthday, and 17 years after winning here for the first time when he was an early 19-year-old, Nadal has gained enough time to also be the oldest male champion at the French Open in France. the story, surpassing the 50-year record set by his countryman, Andrés Gimeno, who was 34 years old. He is now halfway through the Grand Slam for the first time in his career after also winning the Australian Open in January.
Tournament preparation had been dominated by speculation about the future of Christmas following the relapse of his chronic foot injury at the Italian Open. He felt completely miserable that night in Rome and has spent the last two weeks talking hesitantly about the long-term prospects of his foot without a permanent medical solution. But his mentality, his ability to block everything except the present moment, has always won.
The result of his efforts has only strengthened what has been clear for more than a decade: as long as Nadal is fit enough to play freely, Nadal at Roland Garros is the closest thing to untouchable tennis. In a sport full of such a deep field of other disciplined and professional rivals, the level of dominance he has unlocked, the gap between him and the rest even after so long, is still amazing.
The 14 titles of the French Open by Rafael Nadal. Photo: STF / AFP / Getty Images
Ruud not only had to deal with the nerves of a first Grand Slam final, but he faced his all-time idol, Nadal, for the first time in his career. All aspects of the buildup seemed ready to strengthen those nerves. Before the couple had even met on the net, the audience had erupted in shouts of “Rafa, Rafa” and soon after came the most discouraging sound in the sport: the announcer who named each of the 13 years that Nadal won in Paris, one by one. .
In the end, however, Ruud’s biggest problem was simply the big quality gap between the two players and his inability to constantly hurt at Christmas with any part of his game. With the roof open and the weather was much more pleasant than expected, Nadal broke into the game by moving inside the bottom line and dictating his conditions while establishing a 2-0 lead.
After Nadal gave away that break with two double fouls and a right error, Ruud betrayed his nerves by making three consecutive loose errors to make it back. Under minimal pressure, Nadal overcame the set as the predictable pattern was set, with Nadal destroying Ruud’s setback in the exchanges on the track with his strong topspin straight. Ruud closed deeper and deeper into his back corner, and most of the time he couldn’t escape.
Nadal missed the break points in the first game of the second set, and then committed a double foul on the break point himself and was 3-1. Unforced errors on both sides further complicated a routine match. But Nadal immediately broke down, winning five games in a row to take the second set and then passing the last set to take the game.
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Throughout this week, Nadal has said he would give an explanation of his current physical circumstances once his tournament is over and this long-term doubt has led to much speculation about when he will return to play.
Sure, there will be time for this topic, but for now, for his fans, it’s worth savoring a show that won’t be seen for a long time: the most successful Grand Slam player of all time browsing again for the path to success.