14th for Nadal

Men’s Singles final day in Paris. 

2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4

Final:

Rafael Nadal (5) (Spain) v Casper Ruud (8) (Norway)

The final would be the first official tennis match between the pair.

Ruud was in his first Grand Slam final, while Nadal was chasing yet another major to add to his pile.

Nadal served first, and held easily. Ruud was victim to the Nadal attack early and faced two break points in his first service game.

He saved one, but then was beaten by a Nadal forehand and was broken.

Two double faults left Nadal at 15-40 in the third game. The second break point saw Nadal net a forehand and he led 2-1,with games back on serve.

A couple of clean winners were out numbered by some terrible unforced errors which cost Ruud another break of serve, leaving Nadal ahead 3-1.

This time Nadal consolidated, and the advantage extended to 4-1.

Serving at 2-5 to stay in the set, Ruud held firm, including forehand and volley winners.

Nadal, serving for the set, was down 15-30, but won the final three points to take the set 6-3.

Games were 1-1 in set two. Ruud needed to save three break points to win his, whereas Nadal surrendered just one point to level.

Nadal was down 0-40 in game four and a double fault confirmed a break for Ruud who led 3-1.

Untimely unforced error from Ruud gave Nadal a break back point, and he immediately converted to trail 2-3.

Nadal broke in the seventh game after Ruud led 40-30, and the Spaniard took over 4-3.

A love game made it four games on the run and 5-3.

Serving to stay in the set, Ruud was down 15-40. He saved the two set points, and then saved another.

Nadal hit a forehand down the line winner to create a fourth set point, and Ruud double faulted.

Nadal led 6-3 6-3.

In game two of set three, Ruud led 30-15, but lost the next three points, was broken and Nadal led 2-0.

Nadal was now just running over a completely deflated Ruud, hitting winners at will.

Another break of the Norwegian serve, this one to love, saw Nadal ahead 4-0 and cruising to another title.

Ruud served at 0-5 to stay in the match, having lost the previous ten games.

An unforced Ruud forehand error. 0-15.  A Nadal backhand winner. 0-30. A netted Nadal forehand. 15-30.

A backhand cross court Nadal winner and two championship points.

One saved. 

A backhand down the line winner from Nadal and the carnage was complete.

Rafa Nadal claimed his 14th Roland Garros title 6-3 6-3 6-0, winning the last eleven games of the match.