French Open: Uncle Toni - "If Rafael Nadal should lose to someone, then to Casper Ruud"
The French Open final betweenRafael Nadal and Casper Ruud ( from 3:00 p.m. in the live ticker! ) is explosive in one respect above all: the Norwegian's training facility. Toni Nadal knows that too.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jun 04, 2022, 08:44 pm
Not without a grin, Casper Ruud had to admit after reaching the final of the French Open that he and Rafael Nadal had been behind in the previous training sets that he and Rafael Nadal had played in his academy in Spain. Of course you have to show a certain amount of respect, after all you're just a guest, the Norwegian remarked politely.
A man who must have followed these meetings with eagle eyes at one time or another is Toni Nadal - head of the Rafael Nadal Academy and uncle of the Spanish superstar in personal union. And as if the previous French Open in terms of conflicts of interest - think of the duel between his nephew and Felix Auger-Aliassime - were not already challenging enough, Uncle Toni is now obviously facing another one.
Toni Nadal full of praise for Casper Ruud
"I know it will be a difficult game for both of them, but if Rafael has to lose to someone, it's better to lose to Casper," said the Spaniard ahead of Sunday's big final. Of course, that also applies in the other direction: "And if he (Casper Ruud's note) has to lose to someone, it's better to lose to Rafael, because he has already said that he is his idol," said Nadal's former trainer.
For the Academy itself, this constellation is of course a stroke of luck, as Toni Nadal emphasized: "It's doubly lucky that Rafael is playing a new Roland Garros final and that his rival is Casper Ruud, another player who also trained here ." According to Uncle Toni, the Norwegian has made an "extraordinary" development in recent years, developing from a player outside the top 140 to the top of the world since his arrival at the academy.
It remains unclear whether Toni Nadal will again take a neutral place on the Philippe-Chatrier court on Sunday due to this mixed situation or whether he will follow the duel from his nephew's box. For whom it is about nothing less than winning the 14th title at the French Open - and the 22nd Grand Slam title ever. And Casper Ruud? He makes his debut against his "idol" in a Grand Slam final ( from 3:00 p.m. in the live ticker! ). Nice story too.
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