PARIS – [8] Casper Ruud’s (NOR) remarkable Roland-Garros run came to an end on Sunday in the finals against now 14-time champion Rafael Nadal.
“There are certain moments I think for everyone's career that you'll remember more than others, so this one will be high up on my list, biggest match I ever played,” said Ruud.
Entering the finals, it was going to be a tough task for the 23-year-old Ruud. Nadal was 13-for-13 in Roland-Garros finals and was improving match by match, with wins over No.1 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Alexander Zverev.
After shaking off nerves in the first set, Ruud’s first glimmer of success came in the second set when he broke Nadal to take a 3-1 lead. However, that game proved to be the last he won.
Ruud, who trains at Nadal’s academy in Spain, was satisfied with his performance and vowed the experience would only help him in future slams.
“I didn't play my greatest tennis every single point of the tournament, but I was able to win the most important ones and realize that the best-of-five sets matches can be very long, can be sort of a marathon,” said Ruud. “That's something that I think I will learn from, take with me from this experience. Realizing also that I have been able to keep my body well, not too many pains or injuries these two weeks and playing quite long matches. So that's also a good sign for me."
Ruud’s career-best performance in a major has resulted in his career-best ranking. The trailblazing Norwegian has moved to No. 6 in the world in the latest rankings.
TEAM YONEX CHAMPIONS
Women’s Doubles: [5] Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) def. Jessica Pegula / Coco Gauff (USA), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
- The Frenchwomen made the most of their wildcard and gave their home crowd another trophy, becoming two-time doubles’ champions at Roland-Garros after winning their first title in 2016.
Mixed Doubles: Ena Shibahara (JPN) / Wesley Koolhoof (NED) def. Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR) / Joran Vliegen, 7-6, 6-2
- Shibahara and Koolhoof had never played a match together, let alone met each other in person before the tournament, before partnering for the victory. Eikeri was Norway’s first Grand Slam finalist in the Open Era, advancing to the finals a couple days before Casper Ruud made his maiden appearance.
Men’s Wheelchair Singles: [2] Shingo Kunieda (JPN) def. [3] Gustavo Fernandez (ARG), 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
Men’s Wheelchair Doubles: [1] Alfie Hewett (GBR) / Gordon Reid (GBR) def. Shingo Kunieda (JPN) / Gustavo Fernandez, 7-6, 7-6
- Kunieda won his 27th-career singles title. The duo of Kunieda / Fernandez came up just short to the top seeds in doubles, losing in two set tiebreakers.
Women’s Wheelchair Singles: [1] Diede de Groot (NED) def. [2] Yui Kamiji. 6-4, 6-1
Women’s Wheelchair Doubles: [1] Diede de Groot (NED) / Aniek Van Koot (NED) def. [2] Yui Kamiji (JPN) / Kgothatso Montjane, 7-6, 1-6, 10-8
- De Groot has won 41-straight singles matches, dating back to an Australian Open warm up tournament in 2021. It’s the 10th time in her career she has swept the singles and doubles events.
Girls’ Singles: [9] Lucie Havlickova (CZE) def. Solana Sierra (ARG), 6-3, 6-3
Girls’ Doubles: Lucie Havlickova (CZE) / Sara Bejlek (CZE) def. Celine Naef (SUI) / Nikola Bartunkova (CZE), 6-3, 6-3
- Havlickova was an on-site alternate at last year’s Roland-Garros. She was sure to make the most of her opportunity this year, sweeping the singles and doubles draw. She is the second-straight singles champion from the Czech Republic after Linda Noskova won last year.
Casper’s Gear
Racquet: EZONE 100
String: POLYTOUR SPIN 125 / PRO 130
Apparel: Paris Collection
Footwear: ECLIPSION
Bag: Pro Series Bag
Overgrip: Super Grap
