Rafael Nadal Makes It 14 Roland Garros Titles, Coco Gauff Faces Second Final Defeat

Written By Uche Dozie

His 22nd Grand Slam title comes rather easy as he wins in straight sets maintaining a perfect French Open final record of 14-0.

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Rafael Nadal defeated Casper Rudd in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to emerge champion of the French Open final clinching his second Grand Slam of the year.

The 36 year-old Spaniard became the oldest men’s champion in French Open winning in two hours and 17 minutes to take his fourteenth title in France.

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Nadal gets his 22nd Grand Slam singles title extending his record and ties Steffi Graf for second-most Slam singles titles in the Open Era, behind only Serena Williams’ 23.

He becomes the third male player in the Open Era to defeat four top 10 players on his way to a Grand Slam title: Wilander at 1982 Roland-Garros, Federer at 2017 Australian Open and Nadal at 2022 Roland Garros.

How It Happened

The Spaniard dominated play taking the first set 6-3 howbeit an error laden set by the two players.

Nadal led 2-0 controlling play even when Rudd served, but after uncharacteristic double faults by the King of Clay, the Norwegian came to 2-1 to resonate some form of hope.

But a couple of unforced errors caused Rudd to gave away points and leave the score at 4-1.

A great drop shots and first service hold changed the score to 4-2. Subsequently, Nadal led 4-0 before Rudd closed gap, but Nadal would hold after a couple of drop shots to take another game.

Rudd played well at to win his third game, but Nadal won the set after he Norwegian skid another shot off target which hit the umpire, who announced the set for Nadal while the game was 40-15.

By second set, after Nadal equalled score at 1-1, Rudd played well to lead 3-1. However, the Spanish giant rallied back to win five consecutive games to win the set (6-3).

Nadal, delicately poised to wrap things up, picked things up from where he left them to win six consecutive games after the second set to win six games to love in the third set and emerge a conqueror.

Meanwhile…

Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic returned as partners for the first time since they won it back in 2016

French pair Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic recovered from a set down to beat Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday and lift the French Open women’s doubles title for the second time.

For Gauff, it was a second final defeat in less than 24 hours, after the 18-year-old lost in straight sets by top seed Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s singles final.

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Garcia and Mladenovic won the title in 2016 and for the latter it was a fourth women’s doubles crown at Roland Garros after also triumphing in 2019 and 2020 with Timea Babos.

It’s nine Grand Slam doubles titles for Kiki Mladenovic now. Six in women’s doubles, two in mixed doubles.

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