Casper Ruud faced his idol, Rafael Nadal, in the 2022 Roland Garros final but he did not have a great experience as Nadal easily won that match.
It was a solid effort from Ruud but it proved too much to handle for the 23-year-old who played in his maiden grand slam final. Ruud took a week off after Roland Garros but will make his return to tennis today in Queen's Club. Speaking at the event he confirmed that both Rafa and Toni Nadal spoke to him after the final:
“Toni reached out to me and my father after the final and Rafa of course I talked to after the final and I met him the day after as well."
Ruud has practiced at the Nadal tennis academy in Mallorca for years and knows both of them very well. On facing Nadal on Chatrier, Ruud added:
"On [court] Philippe-Chatrier it’s impossible to beat him because in the final there’s no one who has done it before so I was going into the match hoping, you know, he’s gotten older but obviously he’s still playing phenomenal.”
Ruud also admitted he firmly believed he can win:
“Like any other finalist who has played they probably tried to think that one time has to be the time where someone beats him. But he’s keeping his record alive and perfect.”
Due to Ruud's famous grass tennis quote, he was also asked about golf. Specifically where Nadal is tougher to beat and he obviously picked tennis:
“I think he’s tougher to beat in tennis. It’s more difficult.”
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