Rafael Nadal claims 14th French Open title with ruthless victory at Roland Garros

Spaniard destroys Casper Ruud for his 22nd Grand Slam victory

Spaniard Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Casper Ruud of Norway to win the French Open for a 14th time at Roland Garros in Paris on June 5, 2022. EPA

Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy. Getty

Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the French Open. AFP

Rafael Nadal hugs Norway's Casper Ruud after winning the men's singles final. Reuters

Nadal celebrates with the French Open trophy. Getty

Nadal returns to Casper Ruud. AFP

Spectators show their support for Norway's Casper Ruud. AFP

Spain's Rafael Nadal clenches his fist after winning a point. AP

Casper Ruud in action during the final. EPA

Rafael Nadal reclaimed his crown as the king of clay with a dominant victory over Casper Ruud to claim an incredible 14th French Open.

Nadal is two days past his 36th birthday and suffering with a chronic foot problem which has prompted rumours of retirement, but he was way too strong for first-time finalist Ruud and destroyed the Norwegian eighth seed 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.

It was Nadal's 22nd Grand Slam victory to take him two ahead of great rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, and he was full of emotion on court after the victory, offering no indication it was time to quit.

"I don't know what can happen in the future, but I'm going to keep fighting to try to keep going," said the Spaniard.

"For me, it's incredible to play here. It's an incredible feeling.

"First of all, Casper, it's a real pleasure to play with you a final here in Roland Garros. You are great. I want to congratulate you for an amazing career you are having.

"Especially these two weeks, I think it is a very important step forward. I am very, very happy for you and your family and your team. I wish you all the very best for the future.

"I have to follow with my team, my family, everybody. It is completely amazing, the things that are happening this year.

"I can thank you very, very much for all the things you are doing with me and did over all of the years. Without you none of this would be possible."

Nadal passed fellow Spaniard Andres Gimeno as the oldest Roland Garros men's champion, again proving that even at less than 100 per cent he is still a mountain too steep to conquer on the red clay of Roland Garros.

"I want to continue saying thank you to everybody who make possible this event," he added.

"For me and I think for a lot of people who love the history of this sport it is the best tournament of the world so thank you everybody who make possible this great event. You make me feel like home.

"For me personally, it is very difficult to describe the feelings that I have. It's something that I never believed; I would be here at 36, being competitive again, playing in the most important court of my career one more time in a final.

"It means everything to me. It means a lot of energy to try to keep going."

Nadal and Ruud had never played a competitive match before Sunday, but the duo have hit together plenty of times at the Spaniard's academy in Mallorca and the Norwegian said he has never won a practice set against his idol.

Ruud has led the men's Tour since the start of the 2020 season in clay court wins, finals and titles and was the first man from his country to make a Grand Slam singles final, but he did not have enough in his armoury to mount a challenge.

Sunday's victory came 17 years to the day since Nadal won on his Roland Garros debut in 2005, and he now boasts a record of 112 wins at the clay court major, against only three defeats.

Beaten finalist Ruud told the victor: "We all know what a champion you are. Today I got to feel how it is to play against you in a final - it's not easy, I am not the first victim, I know there have been many before."

Focus will now turn to whether Nadal is fit enough to play at Wimbledon, where he would arrive still on course for a calendar Grand Slam for the first time in his career.