Rafael Nadal's painful left foot was numbed by multiple injections to two nerves throughout the French Open, the only way he has found to deal with a chronic condition he acknowledges puts his tennis future in doubt.
At any other tournament, Nadal said, he would not have persisted through what he called such "extreme conditions."
He is the oldest champion in the history of a tournament that began in 1925, and his hair is thinning on top. The chartreuse T-shirt he wore Sunday had sleeves, unlike his biceps-baring look of nearly two decades ago. The white capri pants that ran below his knees back in the day were long since traded in for more standard shorts; Sunday's were turquoise.
"When you are playing defensive against Rafa on clay," said Ruud, a 23-year-old Norwegian who was participating in his first major final, "he will eat you alive." "It's obvious that with the circumstances that I am playing ," Nadal said, "I can't and I don't want to keep going." He played so crisply and cleanly Sunday, accumulating more than twice as many winners as Ruud, 37 to 16. Nadal also committed fewer unforced errors, making just 16 to Ruud's 26. After trailing 3-1 in the second set, Nadal would not cede another game.
He is two ahead of Roger Federer, who hasn't played in almost a year after a series of knee operations, and Djokovic, who missed the Australian Open in January because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
13-time champ Nadal meets newcomer Ruud in French Open finalRafael Nadal truly has nothing more to do to make clear his greatness on a tennis court. The 21 Grand Slam titles. The 13 championships on the red clay of the French Open alone.
Read more »
Rafael Nadal destroys Casper Ruud to win 14th French Open title, 22nd Grand Slam crownRafael Nadal won a record\u002Dextending 14th French Open by crushing Norwegian Casper Ruud on Sunday to claim his 22nd Grand Slam title.
Read more »
Rafael Nadal unstoppable en route to 14th French Open title - Sportsnet.caRafael Nadal is the King of France once again, claiming his 14th French Open title on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 straight-sets victory over Norwegian Casper Ruud at Roland Garros.
Read more »
Nadal tops Ruud for 14th French Open title, 22nd Slam trophyRafael Nadal pulled away to beat Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in the French Open final on Sunday for his 14th championship at Roland Garros and 22nd Grand Slam title overall, adding to two records he already owned.
Read more »
Nadal tops Ruud for 14th French Open title, 22nd Slam trophyRafael Nadal pulled away to beat Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in the French Open final on Sunday for his 14th championship at Roland Garros and 22nd Grand Slam title overall, adding to two records he already owned.
Read more »