2022 Roland Garros Men's Final: Rafael Nadal vs. Casper Ruud

[the AntiPusher]

I am waiting for our other Irish friend to make an appearance he is always late when Rafa wins

@Kieran is probably busy starting a GoFundMe for Rafa's foot doctor expenses for SW19.

 

[Front242]

Every stat by Nadal is a great stat!

Shit break on match point at Indian Wells semi 2012?

 

[Moxie]

Shit break on match point at Indian Wells semi 2012?

Uh-oh, I see you got out your catalogue: "Favorite Nadal Toilet Breaks Across the Years."

 

[Jelenafan]

So Rafa ties Matts Wilander (1982 FO) for beating for winning 4 top ten players in a row in a Major. However Wilander beat seeds #2, #5, #4, and #3. So Wilander was more like the top 6 or 7 players.

Nevertheless, it’s still a very impressive feat for the new 36 year old Methuselah.

 

[Front242]

He used the age old FH to BH crap he used against Federer so much in the past against Ruud today and a lot of ugly balls with absolutely nothing on them straight up the middle of the court waiting for a bad ball back and the opportunity to hit a winner. It was ugly to watch but it won me some money which made up for the horrific experience of it all! I 100% stand by my earlier claim btw that Cilic would have made for a much stronger opponent. I'd challenge anyone who thinks Cilic wouldn't have won more than 6 games.

Looked like he wasn't prepared to run much and maybe that's why those tactics.

 

[kskate2]

He used the age old FH to BH crap he used against Federer so much in the past against Ruud today and a lot of ugly balls with absolutely nothing on them straight up the middle of the court waiting for a bad ball back and the opportunity to hit a winner. It was ugly to watch but it won me some money which made up for the horrific experience of it all! I 100% stand by my earlier claim btw that Cilic would have made for a much stronger opponent. I'd challenge anyone who thinks Cilic wouldn't have won more than 6 games.

Looked like he wasn't prepared to run much and maybe that's why those tactics.

I don't think there is any doubt that Cilic would have been more competitive. He's beaten Nads before in a slam and he has a better serve.

 

[Jelenafan]

I don't think there is any doubt that Cilic would have been more competitive. He's beaten Nads before in a slam and he has a better serve.

However winning a Major is surviving the cumulative effect of the tournament on your body and mind, we are talking 7 matches. Let's just say the 5 set Rublev match was an assist to Ruud for the SF's win over Cilic and leave it at that.

 

[Moxie]

He used the age old FH to BH crap he used against Federer so much in the past against Ruud today and a lot of ugly balls with absolutely nothing on them straight up the middle of the court waiting for a bad ball back and the opportunity to hit a winner. It was ugly to watch but it won me some money which made up for the horrific experience of it all! I 100% stand by my earlier claim btw that Cilic would have made for a much stronger opponent. I'd challenge anyone who thinks Cilic wouldn't have won more than 6 games.

Looked like he wasn't prepared to run much and maybe that's why those tactics.

Since when is hitting a FH into a BH crap play in tennis? You don't like Rafa's game and never have, but he played some great tennis today, and if you weren't so sour grapes you could see that. SMH.

 

[Front242]

Since when is hitting a FH into a BH crap play in tennis? You don't like Rafa's game and never have, but he played some great tennis today, and if you weren't so sour grapes you could see that. SMH.

Honestly, did you really find there to be many amazing looking shots in that match ? I've watched far more entertaining matches with Nadal and today was crap viewing imo and I'd imagine the same for most ppl here cos there's not much fun to be had watching a guy win only 6 games and zero in the final set. Re FH to BH I meant it's ugly to watch btw. Clearly, it's effective...but shot after shot it's not good to watch and I'd rather see a competitive match full of variety which this most definitely was not.

 

[Front242]

His serving was also atrocious. I'm being honest here and you're not. Great for him and his fans that he won but it wasn't a good match.

 

[Fiero425]

Honestly, did you really find there to be many amazing looking shots in that match ? I've watched far more entertaining matches with Nadal and today was crap viewing imo and I'd imagine the same for most ppl here cos there's not much fun to be had watching a guy win only 6 games and zero in the final set. Re FH to BH I meant it's ugly to watch btw. Clearly, it's effective...but shot after shot it's not good to watch and I'd rather see a competitive match full of variety which this most definitely was not.

DIdn't even surf by the match! I knew it was going to be waste of time! Typical! Another easy final after others upset for the "supposed" GOAT! This is why I say "cry me a river" when I hear this BS about an injury as he runs like a fk'n deer retrieving every shot! NAUSEATING!

 

[Jelenafan]

DIdn't even surf by the match! I knew it was going to be waste of time! Typical! Another easy final after others upset for the "supposed" GOAT! This is why I say "cry me a river" when I hear this BS about an injury as he runs like a fk'n deer retrieving every shot! NAUSEATING!

https://c.tenor.com/bmUu8UDpY8YAAAAC/shirley-temple-giggle.gif

 

[the AntiPusher]

I don't think there is any doubt that Cilic would have been more competitive. He's beaten Nads before in a slam and he has a better serve.

When healthy, there's never been a player created by God that can defeat Rafa in a final at RG!

 

[the AntiPusher]

He used the age old FH to BH crap he used against Federer so much in the past against Ruud today and a lot of ugly balls with absolutely nothing on them straight up the middle of the court waiting for a bad ball back and the opportunity to hit a winner. It was ugly to watch but it won me some money which made up for the horrific experience of it all! I 100% stand by my earlier claim btw that Cilic would have made for a much stronger opponent. I'd challenge anyone who thinks Cilic wouldn't have won more than 6 games.

Looked like he wasn't prepared to run much and maybe that's why those tactics.

Rafa is a bad matchup for a player like Rudd who really doesn't have any real weapons to hurt Nadal like Thiem, Novak or Carlos. Just think today , Rafa ONLY had to play his "B" game today. Rafa would have completely destroyed couch drop today in the open roof and sunny conditions.

 

[Jelenafan]

Rafa is a bad matchup for a player like Rudd who really doesn't have any real weapons to hurt Nadal like Thiem, Novak or Carlos. Just think today , Rafa ONLY had to play his "B" game today. Rafa would have completely destroyed couch drop today in the open roof and sunny conditions.

However Front's point is that IF he had reached the finals, Cilic would have won more than 6 games...With that serve of his clicking, I tend to agree the odds are Cilic could have held a few more service games than Ruud.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay I had a nap and still no sign of Kieren he must off passed out in his local pub

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa is a bad matchup for a player like Rudd who really doesn't have any real weapons to hurt Nadal like Thiem, Novak or Carlos. Just think today , Rafa ONLY had to play his "B" game today. Rafa would have completely destroyed couch drop today in the open roof and sunny conditions.

Cilic can also be a mental giant as well in big matches, I mean he lost the plot in his match against Casper big time

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa's plan was to bully Casper's bhand as I have seen that movie soo many times
Casper has to go back and learn positioning on a court, for starters Rafa exposed his court positioning many times in the match

 

[the AntiPusher]

However Front's point is that IF he had reached the finals, Cilic would have won more than 6 games...With that serve of his clicking, I tend to agree the odds are Cilic could have held a few more service games than Ruud.

Do you think that el Cough drop is playing better than Novak in 2020 or Roger in 08? Rudd is a much more accomplished clay court specialist than Cilic who would have been destroyed. Ask @Kieran or @imjimmy ?

 

[rafanoy1992]

First of all, I want to congratulate Rafael Nadal for winning his 14th Roland Garros title and his 22nd slam title overall! At 36 years old, Rafael Nadal never ceases to amaze me on what he does on a tennis court. Hopefully, he can physically win at least 1 more slam title before he calls it a career.

In addition, I want to thank FAA for giving Nadal the boost he needed to beat Djokovic in the QFs, but also the match toughness in order to win his 14th RG title.

One more thing and probably MY favorite Rafael Nadal stat at RG:

Nadal has played 14 RG finals in his career, NONE of those 14 finals went to a 5th set! Just think of that, his opponents have not taken two sets off from Nadal in a RG final!

Compare that to Federer and Djokovic on their best slam:

Federer at Wimbledon: 5 five set matches in the final (2-3)
Djokovic at Australian Open: 2 five set matches in the final (2-0)

Just remarkable achievement!