Exclusive: 'Double joy' - Toni Nadal reacts to Casper Ruud facing 'idol' Rafael Nadal in French Open final

Toni Nadal has told Eurosport about the «double joy» he is feeling at seeing his nephew, Rafael Nadal, reach the French Open final along with Casper Ruud, who was a graduate of his academy. Ruud, the eighth seed at Roland-Garros, has reached his maiden Grand Slam final in Paris and also came through the ranks at the Rafa Nadal Academy with the pair good friends. Ad/> The Norwegian, who moved to the academy in Mallorca in 2018, has spoken about how Nadal has «been my idol for all my life» after he secured his place in Sunday's showpiece after beating Marin Cilic in the semi-finals.

Roland-Garros'Very serious' — Zverev describes ankle injury in social media post5 HOURS AGO «Looking up to Rafa, the player I’m going to play in the final, he never complains,» Ruud said in his on-court interview. «Perfect. He’s a perfect example of how you should be on court, never give up, never complain.

He’s been my idol for all my life. »It’s amazing, he’s the last player of the big three of the top players in the world I have never played against. This is perfect timing and worth the wait.

To play him in the Grand Slam final will be a special moment for me, and hopefully, for him — he’s going to be playing a student from his academy. It’s going to be a fun one." Uncle Toni has shared with Eurosport his feelings of pride and «double joy» at seeing both Nadal and Ruud reach the pinnacle of the clay-court tennis world in Paris. «Casper's evolution over these years has been extraordinary,» he told Eurosport.

«He reached his 150th and today he is one of the best players in the world. »He has been in the top-10 for more than a year, he is one of the players who has progressed the most. He has done an impressive job with his father and I think