Nadal vs Ruud in the final
Right then we have our final. On one side will be a 13-time champion and a 14-time finalist Rafael Nadal and on the other a maiden Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud. It will also be the first meeting between Nadal and Ruud. Fun little anecdote: Ruud moved to the Rafael Nadal Academy in 2018 when he was in mid 100’s in the world. Now he’s World No 8 and slated to climb to sixth in the world on Monday. Will he do that with a win on Sunday? Before that, we have the women’s final tomorrow between Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff where it is similar scenario. Swiatek could win a second French Open title or Gauff her first major. Join us then. Good night!
First Nowegian into the final!
Maiden Slam final mood ?@CasperRuud98 becomes the first Norwegian man in history to reach a Grand Slam #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ShQEPIOwFh
Game, set, match Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud comes from a set down to beat Marin 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 and is into his maiden Grand Slam final. Family and friends in the box rightly celebrate and in tears as Ruud sets up final against Rafael Nadal
Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 Cilic (* denotes next server)
Ruud serving for a place in the final. Starts off with plenty of zip on his forehands and the Cilic lob is put away for a confident smash. Cilic sends a backhand long and it is 30-0. Precise serve on the deuce court, out wide, opens the court up for a forehand winner and it is three match points. Closed out with an ace!
Ruud* 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-1 Cilic (* denotes next server)
Cilic’s backhand cross court is into the tramlines and it is 0-30. Now Cilic rushes into the forehand and finds the net. Three break points for Ruud. One saved with Ruud sending the backhand serve return long. Once again Cilic’s contact on the forehand is not the cleanest, the body weight not transferring into the shot and the ball hits the net. This is virtually game, set, match to Ruud!
Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-1 *Cilic (* denotes next server)
Ruud starts the fourth set by breaking Cilic early (yes again!) and the Croatian will have to play catch up again. It is all Ruud though and the scoreline is not lying. World No 8 Ruud not rushing towards the finishing line but Cilic’s errors are rising
Stepping away and looking at Wimbledon 2022
Wimbledon have released the official entry list for Wimbledon 2022 and Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams are not on it. The Russian and Belarusian players are not on it because they’re banned. Stan Wawrinka has not used his protected ranking despite playing warm-up events. Dominic Thiem, who is taking some time off, is using it for now. For India, Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan are alternatives in the men’s singles main draw but also make the qualifying list if they don’t. Also in that list is Prajnesh Gunneswaran. No Sumit Nagal or Ankita Raina. Bear in mind, these lists can change and evolve depending on variety of factors and wildcards are yet to be announced.
One to go for Ruud!
1? set away from a maiden Slam final#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/fni2elufg7
Third set: Casper Ruud 6-2
Casper Ruud takes a two sets to one lead over Marin Cilic by winning the third set 6-2 in 45 minutes. He is by far the better player with Cilic missing many balls he was making in the previous two rounds. The set will also grab headlines for a protestor causing disruption with security caught napping
Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 *Cilic (* denotes next server)
Casper Ruud doesn’t make the most of two set points and now CIlic has a chance to break after putting the Norwegian under the pump. Cilic goes for broke on the forehand but misses. Back to deuce. Once again, Cilic attacks but the forehand is into the tramlines. He is hitting the ball bigger but missing the thin margins. A body into the serve and the return goes wide. Ruud is two sets to one up!