Rafael Nadal at Casper Ruud, pasok na sa men’s final ng French Open
(COMBO/FILES) This combination of file photographs created on June 3, 2022, shows Spain's Rafael Nadal (L) as he plays a backhand return to Germany's Alexander Zverev during their men's semi-final singles match on day thirteen of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on June 3, 2022 and Norway's Casper Ruud (R) as he plays a backhand return to Denmark's Holger Rune during their men's quarter-final singles match on day eleven of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on June 1, 2022. - Casper Ruud and Rafael Nadal are set to compete in the men's singles final match for The Mousquetaires Cup at The French Open tennis tournament in Paris on June 5, 2022. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP)
Narating ni Rafael Nadal ang kanyang ika-14 na French Open final nitong Biyernes, nang mapilitan si Alexander Zverev na huminto sa kanilang huling-apat na sagupaan matapos magtamo ng right ankle injury.
Sa Linggo, ay maglalaro si Nadal sa kanyang 30th Grand Slam final kapag hinarap niya si Casper Ruud, ang unang Norwegian na nakagawa ng championship match sa majors.
Si Nadal ay 7-6 (10/8), 6-6 na ang kalamangan nang mapilitang huminto si Zverev, habang tinalo naman ni Ruud si Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 sa kanilang semi-final.
Ayon sa 13-time French Open champion . . . “If you are human, you feel sorry for a colleague. It’s very tough and very sad for him. He was playing an unbelievable tournament and he’s a very good colleague on the tour. I know how much he’s fighting to win a Grand Slam. For the moment, he was very unlucky. I’m sure he’ll win not one, but much more than one. I wish him all the best.”
Sinabi naman ni Zverev . . . “I had suffered a very serious injury. It was a very difficult moment on the court. It looks like a very serious injury but the medical team are still checking it and I will keep you updated. But congratulations to Rafa, it’s an amazing achievement to be in the final for the 14th time. I hope he goes all the way and makes more history.”
Si Nadal ang naging pangalawang pinakamatandang nakarating sa final sa Paris pagkatapos ng 37-anyos na si Bill Tilden, na naging runner-up noong 1930.
Ang tagumpay ay nakuha ni Nadal, na nagpatumba sa world number one at defending champion na si Novak Djokovic sa quarter-finals.
Kung manalo siya sa Linggo, siya na ang magiging pinakamatandang kampeon sa torneo, kung saan mahihigitan na niya ang 34-anyos na kababayang si Andres Gimeno na nakakuha ng titulo noong 1972.
Si Ruud ang naging unang Norwegian na nakarating sa Slam final at pinapurihan si Nadal bilang kanyang “idolo”.
Ang world number eight na si Ruud ay nagpakawala ng 16 aces at 41 winners kontra sa 2014 US Open champion na si Cilic.
© Agence France-Presse
