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 he will make his return to tennis today at Queen's Club's Cinch Championships.
Speaking ahead of the ATP 500 event, he confirmed that both Rafa and Toni Nadal spoke to him after the French Open final, which he lost in three sets.
“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 Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for years and knows both of them very well. Ruud also spoke about how it feels to be playing against the 14-time Roland Garros champion at the Court Philippe-Chatrier.
"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 could win the final, even though he was ultimately very far from achieving that goal.
"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 quote about grass tennis, he was also asked about golf. Ruud previously said that grass is for playing golf, so he was asked whether it is easier to beat Nadal on tennis court or the golf course.
"I think he’s tougher to beat in tennis. It’s more difficult."