The King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, is one win away from clinching his 14th career French Open crown. The Spanish superstar is through to the final after Alexander Zverev was forced to retire following a serious ankle injury in their semi-final match.
Zverev has since made French Open 2022 news as he shared the actual severity of the injury he suffered on social media.
Meanwhile, Nadal, who continues to deal with his own physical ailments, will meet rising ATP Tour star Casper Ruud, who has reached his first-ever Grand Slam final after coming from behind to beat Marin Cilic.
Read on below as SBOTOP delivers the latest news and updates as the 2022 French Open men’s tournament nears its conclusion.
Rafa Nadal reaches another French Open final
Rafael Nadal is through to his 14th French Open final, but he has done so under unfortunate circumstances.
Nadal was leading Alexander Zverev 7-6(8), 6-6 in their semi-final match and were set for another tie-break when Zverev badly rolled his right ankle as he was trying to track down a Nadal forehand.
The 25-year-old German went down in serious pain while clutching his right ankle and had to leave the court on a wheelchair.
Nadal, who went over to help Zverev after the injury, shared some words of sympathy for his fallen opponent.
“Very tough and very sad for him,” Nadal said on-court after the match. “Honestly, he was playing an unbelievable tournament. He’s a very good colleague on the Tour. I know how much he’s fighting to win a Grand Slam, but for the moment he was very unlucky. The only thing I’m sure is that he is going to win not one — more than one. I wish him all the best and very fast recovery.”
Nadal has been suffering through his own share of injuries during this French Open run. He even admitted he would choose to lose the French Open final if it meant gaining a new, pain-free foot.
“I would prefer to lose the final without a doubt,” Nadal said. “My thoughts haven’t changed; in the end a new foot would allow me to be more happy in my day-to-day life. Winning is lovely and it fills you with adrenaline for a short moment but life goes on. Life is much more important than whatever title.”
However, the soon-to-be 36-year-old says he is in fine physical shape – as he showed with his epic quarter-final victory over rival Novak Djokovic – as he attempts to win his record-extending 14th French Open title and 22nd Grand Slam title.
Zverev suffers several torn ligaments in foot
Alexander Zverev has shared the extent of his injury, and it is as bad as it initially seemed. The 25-year-old German posted on social media that he suffered several torn ligaments on his foot.
“I am now on my way back home,” Zverev said via his Instagram. “Based on the first medical checks, it looks like I have torn several lateral ligaments in my right foot.
“I will be flying to Germany to determine the best and quickest way for me to recover. I want to thank everyone all over the world for the kind messages that I have received since yesterday.”
Based on the severity of his injury, it figures to be a long road back for the World No. 3 and Olympic gold medal winner, who was hoping to reach the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings for the first time in his career at the French Open.
Casper Ruud to face Nadal in first Grand Slam final
Casper Ruud stands in the way of another Rafa Nadal coronation in Roland Garros. The 23-year-old Norwegian has reached the first Grand Slam final of his young career after coming from behind to beat Marin Cilic in the semi-finals, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Ruud, the No. 8 seed, has trained at Nadal’s academy in Mallorca since September 2018, and is looking forward to facing off with the Spaniard.
“It is amazing… He is the last player of the Big 3 and the very top players in the world I have never played against,” Ruud said of Nadal in an on-court interview. “So I guess this is perfect timing and worth the wait. To finally play him in a Grand Slam final will be a special moment for me. Hopefully a little bit for him as well.
“He has played so many finals, but at least he is playing a student from his academy this time. So it is going to be a fun one hopefully.”
The French Open 2022 betting odds will be heavily against Ruud in the final against Nadal, who has not lost in his previous 13 trips to the final at Roland Garros.
But the Norwegian has shown his strength and resiliency in this run to the final and will give Nadal all he can handle.
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