The myth lives on but reaches levels of magnificence that seem to be part of a work of fiction. Rafael Nadal has done it again; each year is more complicated, each edition his favoritism decreases, and the forecasts of a change of guard seem to ignore an overwhelming reality every time he goes out on the track: he is simply the best.
No one in the history of the sport, not just tennis, has ever had such an outstanding ability to find solutions when on the edge of the abyss, to emerge when any other mortal would give up, and to win matches by abrasion, without having to do his better tennis, but intimidating right from the start with that unique and unrepeatable aura and using skill and competitive intelligence to add a resounding victory against Casper Ruud. The final result was 6-3 6-3 6-0 and the consequence is that the Spaniard continues to make history with his title at Roland Garros 2022.
Nadal did not need his best level of play to overwhelm Ruud
It must be very discouraging to have the powerful feeling of facing an impossible challenge and that the future of the encounter does not depend on you. The young Norwegian knew what he was facing, he was aware that a first Grand Slam final is always complicated on a mental level, but that the worst possible scenario is to face Rafa in the Philippe Chatrier, and just a few games of the first set were enough to realize that there was nothing he could do to reverse his worst forecasts.
The Spaniard broke the kick-off, suffered a morrocotu do mistake later, but was soon back in the lead with amazing ease. Without having to play spectacular tennis, he wore down Ruud on the side of his backhand and demolished his resistance by attacking already on the court and being able to let go of his arm. The game scheme was clear and when that happens, it is impossible to stop Rafa, even if he is not brimming with confidence and intensity of legs. He managed to keep the serve off him and maximize his advantage.
Good old Casper tried to redouble his efforts in the second set, leaving with renewed energy and having removed the initial nerves that always grip. His legs were moving faster allowing him to gain the initiative and hit many forehands, he landed very deserving shots and gained confidence. All that display allowed him to take a 1-3 lead on the scoreboard, which only woke up the beast.
What in any other scenario and time would have been an encouraging start, was nothing more than an oasis in the desert for the young Norwegian, who met the visceral reaction of a legend willing to leave nothing in the inkwell. He came back without fuss, without the need for great fuss or miracles, but with that insulting authority with which he has been blowing up rivals for decades.
Rafa chained 11 consecutive games and won
The mountain became too big for Casper Ruud in the third part, with the Spaniard ready to finish the match in style and recover the best sensations of the game, even though he didn’t need them. It was very hard morally for the Norwegian to see himself surpassed in this way and he seemed to lower his arms in the impotence to hurt this colossus.
Winning drives, impossible recoveries, and, in short, a perfect synthesis of all his virtues, is what Rafael Nadal offered in the final stretch of a match that is already part of the history of tennis and that, for the good of this sport, hopefully, it will not be the last of the Spaniard in this tournament.
The 14th is already here; the most unexpected, the most meritorious, the most emotional, and hopefully not the last. It only remains to enjoy this player while you can. And nothing more.
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