Nadal answers the question of retirement after winning the French Open: "Can't and doesn't want to continue like this"

Created: 06/06/2022, 04:52

By: Christoph Klaucke

Rafael Nadal wins his 14th Roland Garros title in the French Open final against Casper Ruud.

© Gao Jing/Imago

Rafael Nadal was in the final of the French Open after Zverev's injury drama.

The Spaniard didn't give Casper Ruud a chance.

The final in the ticker to read.

• Nadal

  rolls over

  Ruud

  :

  French Open

  final

  : Rafael Nadal - Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0

• Nadal

  gets

  second set

  :

  The Spaniard plays furiously against Ruud after falling behind

• Nadal

  with

  message

  to

  Zverev

  : Spaniard sends recovery wishes after injury shock

• This live ticker is continuously updated

Update from June 5, 9:38 p.m .:

After his superior triumph at the French Open, Rafael Nadal announced that he would have to find a solution for his badly injured left foot.

"It is obvious that I cannot continue like this and do not want to continue," said the 36-year-old 22-time Grand Slam champion.

He hopes that a new therapy will start next week.

If this succeeds, he also wants to serve in Wimbledon (from June 27th).

Otherwise he would have to consider other, "bigger" medical options such as surgery.

"I'm in Wimbledon when my body allows it," said Nadal: "It's not a tournament I want to miss."

Nadal stated that in Paris two nerves in his foot had always been numbed with injections for his matches.

The Spaniard suffers from the rare Müller-Weiss syndrome.

Rafael Nadal wins French Open final against Casper Ruud: Spaniard answers question of withdrawal

Update from June 5, 5:55 p.m .:

As usual, Nadal politely praises his opponent Casper Ruud and thanks his family, the organizers and the ball children.

Then it gets exciting.

Is Nadal announcing his retirement as a tennis pro here today?

“It is very difficult to describe my feelings.

I never thought that at 36 I would still be competitive.

Winning again here on this court means everything to me.

Many thanks to the people here in Paris.

It was an incredible journey, thank you for your support," explains Nadal, before finally clearing up the speculation.

"I don't know what will happen in the future, but I will continue to fight to stay competitive." Nadal apparently wants to continue chasing Grand Slam titles and expand his record of 22 majors.

Update from June 5, 5:47 p.m .:

Rafael Nadal lifts the winner’s trophy into the Paris sky and lets the audience celebrate on the Philipp Chatrier court.

What a moment!

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Update from June 5, 5:45 p.m .:

The final loser Casper Ruud addressed emotional words to Rafael Nadal.

"Today I had to feel what it's like to play against you in the final.

I'm not the first victim.

Thank you for welcoming me into your academy with open arms,” said the Norwegian in Paris.

"I hope you keep playing for a long time," said Ruud towards Nadal, who had been rumored to be retiring before the game.

Nadal rolls over Ruud: Spaniard wins the French Open for the 14th time

Game, set & match Nadal: Rafael Nadal wins the French Open for the 14th time.

The 36-year-old Spaniard didn't give the Norwegian the slightest chance in the Roland Garros final and won in three sets 6: 3, 6: 3, 6: 0.

Nadal was even 3-1 down in the second set, but then he didn't give up a single game.

What an achievement!

3rd set - 5:0 Nadal:

Now things are going very fast here.

Nadal rolls over Ruud, who has nothing to oppose the Spaniard's pace.

3rd set - 4:0 Nadal: Ruud is now going through it.

Nadal gets the next break - to zero!

3rd set - 3:0 Nadal:

The Spaniard pulls away.

Nadal is very close to his 14th title at the French Open.

3rd set - 2: 0 Nadal: Break!

Nadal has no mercy on Ruud and immediately grabs the break in the third set.

3rd set - 1:0 Nadal:

The third set continues as the second set ended: Nadal dominates the game.

Before that, the Spaniard quickly freshened up and changed his jersey in the dressing room.

Nadal gets the second set: The Spaniard plays furiously against Ruud after falling behind

2nd set - 6:3 Nadal: The Spaniard also wins the second set despite being behind.

Nadal wins five games in a row to 6: 3.

Nadal uses the fourth set ball after a double mistake by the Norwegian.

2nd set - 5:3 Nadal:

With an ace, Nadal wins his service game to zero.

As a reminder: At the beginning of the set Ruud was 3:1 in the lead, it's all going much too fast for the Norwegian.

2nd set - 4: 3 Nadal: Next break!

The Spaniard is now on a run and narrowly gets the break.

Ruud's ball is a few centimeters too long.

Bitter for the Norwegian!

2nd set - 3:3:

Compensation!

Nadal holds his serve to zero and makes the tie.

Can Ruud find an answer?

2nd set - 2:3 Ruud: Re-break!

Nadal shakes himself briefly and the break back.

Ruud sometimes acts far too passively.

2nd set - 1:3 Ruud: Crazy!

Ruud gets the break after a double fault from Nadal to zero.

The Norwegian is back in the running.

That wasn't really announced.

Does Nadal possibly have physical problems?

2nd set - 1:2 Ruud:

The Norwegian stays tuned and takes the lead again.

2nd set - 1: 1:

Nadal has no problems with his serve, only with a stop ball he is countered by Ruud.

2nd set - 0:1 Ruud:

The Norwegian gets through his service game and takes the lead in a set for the first time.

But Ruud had to fight hard and fend off three breakballs.

Nadal wins first set: Ruud has so far had no chance in the final of the French Open

1st set - 6: 3 Nadal: The Spaniard gets the first set.

In the end it got exciting again when Ruud took the lead with 30:15.

But Nadal makes three points in a row.

Ruud misses the last backhand clearly and almost hits the chair referee, the ball hits just behind the high seat.

1st set - 5:3 Nadal:

Ruud stays in the set and shows a strong service game.

Nadal immediately served to win the set.

1st set - 5: 2 Nadal:

The best rally of the game.

Nadal plays a cunning stop, but Ruud has smelled the roast and is on the net in time.

The Norwegian's counterattack is good, but not good enough for Nadal, who remains alert.

1st set - 4:2 Nadal:

Ruud gets his first service game and shortens it.

Nadal just misplaces a backhand to the side.

Previously, Ruud had made people sit up and take notice with a cheeky stop.

1st set - 4: 1 Nadal:

The Spaniard holds his serve with ease and breaks away.

Now Ruud has to counter it, otherwise the first set will be gone very quickly.

Break festival to start: Three breaks between Nadal and Ruud in a row

1st set - 3: 1 Nadal: Next break!

Ruud gradually becomes stronger, but sometimes seems too wild.

Too many mistakes creep in.

Despite the game ball for Ruud, Nadal gets the break.

1st set - 2:1 Nadal: The Spaniard made two double mistakes.

Ruud uses the second breakball to re-break after a ball into Nadal's net.

1st set - 2: 0 Nadal: Break!

Nadal rushes to the net on Ruud's first serve and rewards himself with a volley stop.

Ruud can initially fend off a breakball, but then he concedes a counterattack after an attack hit.

1st set - 1:0 Nadal:

The Spaniard tries to attack Ruud's backhand right at the start of the game.

The Norwegian immediately makes a mistake in the first rally.

Nadal delivers his serve confidently and only has to give up one point.

Update from June 5, 3:12 p.m .:

Rafael Nadal won the seat selection and decided to serve.

The finale will begin in a few moments.

Update from June 5, 3:05 p.m.:

The players enter the square.

Rafael Nadal is frenetically celebrated by the spectators on the Philipp Chatrier court.

So it can start right away with the final of the French Open.

Update from June 5, 3 p.m.:

Casper Ruud is number eight in the world.

The 23-year-old Norwegian from Oslo should not be underestimated.

Ruud celebrated seven of his eight tournament wins on the ATP tour on clay, this year he won Buenos Aires and Geneva.

Against the clay court king Nadal, the Norwegian has to unpack his best tennis to have a chance.

Ruud is in a Grand Slam final for the first time in his career, previously he only made it to the round of 16 at the Australian Open 2021.

Update from June 5, 2:50 p.m .:

With Grand Slam title number 22 in the French Open final against Casper Ruud, Rafael Nadal could move up from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the ranking of players with the most Grand Slam titles sit down, both of which have won one of the four major events 20 times.

But that is secondary for Nadal.

Nadal was asked about his success against the injured Alexander Zverev why he is still playing despite his age and the problems with his foot.

“Because I just love playing tennis.

And when you love something, you just keep going," replied the Spanish clay court king.

French Open: Final in the live ticker – Nadal against Ruud

Preliminary report

: Paris – The clay court king of the French Open is back in the Roland Garros final.

Rafael Nadal has already won 13 Grand Slam titles in France.

In the final on Sunday (from 3 p.m., all broadcast dates at a glance) against Casper Ruud, title number 14 should follow for the Spaniard (all previous winners of the French Open).

This is a premiere, because for the first time Nadal has to deal with the Norwegian in an official tennis match.

In the semifinals, Nadal also benefited from the injury drama surrounding Germany's tennis ace Alexander Zverev.

Nadal with message to Zverev: Spaniard sends recovery wishes before French Open final

Zverev had an unfortunate twist in the semi-finals of the French Open (schedule in the overview) and had to give up at 6: 7 (8:10), 6: 6 after 3:13 hours of play, numerous wishes for recovery.

Above all, Nadal felt with his opponent, who was initially taken off the pitch in a wheelchair in severe pain and with tears in his eyes.

"I hope it's not too bad and nothing is broken," said the Spaniard, who openly admitted how difficult it was for him in the match: "He played fantastic at the beginning of the game.

It was a miracle that I won the first set. ”In the end, Zverev did not stay longer than sadly congratulating Nadal.

"Of course I want to congratulate Rafa and I hope that he can write more history with his 14th title," said the Hamburger, who is now threatened with a long break.

Premiere in the French Open final: First ATP duel between Nadal and Ruud

There are few players on the tour that Rafael Nadal knows as well as Casper Ruud.

And that's despite the fact that the Spaniard, who has been 36 since Friday, and the 13-year-old Norwegian have never played against each other in an ATP match.

But Ruud has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for four years, which is why the two opponents have trained together countless times in the final at the French Open this Sunday.

"He's a great boy, they have a really great family," said Nadal about Ruud, who is coached by his father Christian.

French Open: Final in the live ticker - Nadal ignores chronic foot problems

For his 14th title at the French Open, Nadal once again ignores his chronic foot problems, the Spaniard suffers from a rare disease.

"I did everything possible to be here," said Nadal.

"And that's why I'm of course extremely happy that I have another chance to play the final here in Roland Garros again," said Nadal, "that means a lot to me".

"I still feel fit enough to play in the biggest arenas in the world and I think I can still keep up," said Nadal.

Ruud has no doubts about that.

“He has a 13-0 record when he's in the final here.

Nevertheless, I will try everything, just like the 13 other opponents before me did," said Ruud before his premiere in a Grand Slam final.

Follow the final of the French Open between Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud here in the live ticker.