Nadal vs Ruud French Open 2022 Final Highlights: Nadal beats Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to win his 14th French Open title

“The first thing, the most important thing, is to congratulate Rafa. It’s the 14th time, your 22nd. We all know what a champion you are. Today I got to feel what it is to play you in a final. I’m not the first victim, there have been many before. We all hope you will continue for some time....Hopefully next year I can learn some French, and I will try. I can’t wait to come back. Thank you and merçi.”

This is his 14th title at the French Open, a trophy he claimed exactly 17 years after his maiden haul. This is also an unprecedented 22nd slam for Nadal. He also became the oldest player to win the French Open. 

Nadal making no error at all as he is 30-0 up with a 35th winner, 12th of this set. Bit of a duel at the net - drop shot from Ruud, return from Nadal, lobbed shot from Ruud and then the volley goes wrong for Nadal. Backhand winner and championship point for Nadal. Unforced error from Nadal to follow. AND HE DOES IT

Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 Ruud

Nadal quickly goes 30-0 up. Some respite for Ruud as Nadal gets the backhand wrong. The drop shot then makes it 40-15 for Nadal. And he holds. 

Nadal* 6-3, 6-3, 5-0 Ruud

Nadal on the charge as he quickly goes 30-0 up. He can do no wrong….that's perfection personified! Backhand winner from Nadal makes it 40-0. Ruud's error at the net and Nadal goes 4-0 up. 

Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 4-0 Ruud*

Draws Ruud forward with the drop shot and then responds to the lob shit with a forehand crosscourt whip. WOOOAAH!!! That point…surely one for the highlight reel. It looked like he stopped midway for the return, but then lobbed in a crosscourt return, leaving Nadal surprised. Nadal once again gets to turn the rally around with a forehand winner. Another one…similar winner and it's 40-30 for Nadal. Ruud's attempt at drop shot goes wrong and Nadal maintains the lead. 

Nadal* 6-3, 6-3, 3-0 Ruud

Nadal keeps Ruud stranded towards the far end of the court with a backhand winner but errs on the next two points. Ruud then gets his forehand return wrong on the run and it's 30-all. The net cord helps Nadal as it slows down Ruud's return and Nadal slots in the forehand winner. Nadal pounces again with a backhand winner and he wins his seventh straight game. He breaks early in the 3rd set. 

 Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 2-0 Ruud*

Bit of misfortune there for Nadal as his forehand hits the net cord and falls on the same side of the court. The backhand goes long at the end of the long rally from Ruud. A serve wide out to Ruud's backhand works for him as he goes 40-15 up. Looks for the forehand winner, but it goes over the sideline and Nadal holds to 15. 

Nadal* 6-3, 6-3, 1-0 Ruud

Nadal: 73% win on 1st serve, 67 on 2nd; 51% return points win; 3/9 break points saved

Ruud: 59% win on 1st serve, 25 on 2nd; 29% return points win; 1/1 break points saved

A sliced volley across the net and Nadal makes it 15-all. Ruud throws everything around, but still gets manoeuvred around and Nadal makes it 30-15. Nadal shining in the sunshine as he fires another forehand winner to make it 40-15. Some respite for Ruud as Nadal errs on backhand return on the serve. Ruud denies Nadal to convert break point. Deuce. Nadal's superb return off the serve sets it up for him and Ruud makes a forehand error. Ruud breaks Nadal's defense with a series of forehand hits to Nadal's backhand and the Spaniard's slice rams the net. Deuce. You give him a shot at his forehand and Nadal pounces on it with a vintage winner. Break point again for him. Double fault from Ruud and Nadal breaks and takes the second set. 

Nadal 6-3, 6-3 Ruud*

The lob shot goes over the sideline and the backhand return of the serve fails to find the line as Nadal goes 30-0 up. Nadal charges down for a volley, but Ruud's return goes the other way and outside the court. Ace and Nadal holds to love. 

Nadal* 6-3, 5-3 Ruud

Ruud gets an applause from Nadal after a superb net play win. However, he errs on return on the next point. A wide serve helps him restore the lead at 30-15. Ruud then misses the line off his forehand and it's 30-all. A couple of efforts at the net as Nadal stays strong with good defense before he gets the volley right to make it 40-30. Bit of misfortune there as the return from Ruud  hits the net and sails over the line. Deuce. Nadal gains break point advantage with a superb and power-packed forehand winner. Ruud's lob shot goes over Nadal and over the line. Nadal breaks again. 

Nadal 6-3, 4-3 Ruud*

A sixth backhand winner and then a drop shot gives Nadal a 30-0 lead. Ruud moves a fraction too early and Nadal anticipates and slots in the sliced volley over perfectly. Nadal holds.  

Nadal* 6-3, 3-3 Ruud

The combination of 1st serve and the forehand winner working perfectly for Ruud as he makes it 30-all. However, he errs on it on the next point. And Nadal breaks back straight away. And the reaction says it all. 

Nadal 6-3, 2-3 Ruud*

Bit of a nervy start from Nadal in his second service game. Volley error from the Spaniard and he goes 0-30 down. Nadal is losing on the shorter rallies and is dominant on the longer ones. Ruud dishes out the slice and Nadal sprints, returns and it hits the net. Ruud with a chance to break Nadal in the 2nd set. Ruud breaks after a third double fault from Nadal.

A long rally and Nadal gains a winner out of it. Ruud then takes a lead with a rocket of a forehand winner. Nadal had the chance to level it, but errs on the backhand return as Ruud charged forward. Ruud holds with a serve and volley.

Nadal fires away the backhand crosscourt winner and he goes 40-0 up. Masterful return from Ruud to Nadal's drop shot. Nadal had no space to return it. Applause from Nadal. Backhand winner from Nadal and he holds. 

Nadal: 88% win on 1st serve, 33 on 2nd; 67% return points win; 2/3 break points saved

Ruud: 57% win on 1st serve, 45 on 2nd; 50% return points win; 1/2 break points saved

Nadal quickly goes off to a 30-0 lead before Ruud's forehand error makes it 40-15. A double break point for Nadal. And just when he looked to steal a point with a perfect volley, Ruud survives as the return hits the net. Some respite for Ruud. Chance for Nadal to convert the break, but it goes over the sideline. Nadal then gains advantage after another backhand error from Ruud. But Ruud saves the break point yet again. He then dishes out a superb drop shot and Nadal's return is stopped at the net. Ruud holds.

Nadal looks to set up a win down the backhand side of Ruud, but errs on his return. Ruud then crunches a perfect forehand winner to go 30-15 up. Nadal then gets his serve to the backhand of Ruud's and the return goes over the line. Another good serve from Nadal and the backhand goes over the line from Ruud. It's 6-3 for the first set. NADAL TAKES THE OPENING SET. 

Ruud gets himself inside the baseline and fires the forehand winner to go 30-0 up. This is his 5th forehand winner so far. Nadal charges forward after a couple of rallies - forehand to backhand - and then executes the perfect drop shot. Ruud emulates the same and Nadal fails to connect. He goes 40-15 up. Ruud holds. 

Nadal almost allowed Ruud back into that point, but the lob shot went over the line. Nadal then whips away a forehand winner down the line with Ruud stranded on the other end of the court and goes 40-0 up. Nadal is getting more wins behind his first serves today - 10/11. A raging backhand crosscourt from Ruud and Nadal looks to put weight behind it but it goes over the line. Ruud makes it 30-40. Nadal gets the volley right and he holds serve to 30.  

Nadal produces a forehand winner and then error as its 15-all. Ruud then takes a lead with a drop shot that works perfectly for him.  Nadal goes back to punishing Ruud's backhand and he reads it wrong on the second time. A perfect serve down the T makes it 40-30 for Ruud. Nadal then fails to find the line on his backhand return and Ruud holds serve. 

Nadal dictates the point with his forehand and he goes 30-0 up. Ruud draws Nadal forward, but gives too much flight to the drop shot. Nadal comfortably fends it off with a forehand winner. A confident forehand volley from Ruud follows next. Nadal holds. 

Nadal cuts down the space at the net and Ruud errs on his backhand return. A serve down the T and forehand winner makes it 15-all for Ruud. He looks to do it again, but the forehand crosscourt sails long. Nadal errs on the forehand this time, with a shaky return. Ruud makes some damage with the forehand. Pushes Nadal with returns into his backhand before firing one into the empty court. 40-30 up for Ruud. He then sends the backhand over the baseline and Nadal gets a lifeline with a deuce. A perfect serve from Ruud, but the volley absolutely wrong and it's break point opportunity for Nadal.  And Nadal breaks