Rafael Nadal wins 22nd Grand Slam title and 14th French Open crown with straight sets demolition of Casper Ruud
Rafael Nadal celebrated his record-extending 14th French Open title with a two-hander that whistled through the air and kicked the chalk. The champion then tossed his racket, tearing up as he covered his face before embracing his opponent - Casper Ruud. AS IT HAPPENEDThe ochre-hued stage was set earlier in the day, Court Philippe-Chatrier was at capacity and the troubling weather predictions had been binned. The sun made periodic appearances early in the match, perhaps to greet the 13-time champion, before coming out in all its glory in the second half of the final. That worked like a roller on the crushed red-brick carpet and Nadal was skipping around the shale and stinging like a bee. So much so that Ruud only won eight points in the third set.
