Can Nadal overcome his foot injury to win Roland Garros?

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Nadal Faces Challenge of Foot Injury in Pursuit of Record French Open Title

Rafael Nadal faces a significant challenge in his quest to become the oldest-ever French Open champion as he prepares to meet Casper Ruud in Sunday's final. While victory would extend his record Grand Slam count to 22 and his Roland Garros titles to 14, Nadal, at 36 years old, has been battling a chronic left foot injury that resurfaced last month. This injury has cast a shadow over his participation and performance, even leading him to express a preference for a healthy foot over winning the final.
A Gruelling Path to the Final

Nadal's journey to the final has been arduous, marked by intense and lengthy matches. He required five sets and over four hours to overcome Felix Auger-Aliassime in the round of 16, followed by another four-hour epic against Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. The semi-final saw Alexander Zverev forced to retire due to an ankle injury after a gruelling three-hour contest, though not before Nadal had demonstrated remarkable resilience, including winning a demanding 44-shot rally. His formidable record at Roland Garros now stands at an impressive 111 wins against only three losses.
Historical Precedent and Ruud's Rise

Should Nadal emerge victorious, he would surpass Andres Gimeno, who became the oldest French Open champion at 34 years old fifty years ago. Meanwhile, his opponent, 23-year-old Casper Ruud, is recognised as the tour's most in-form clay court player. Ruud has secured seven of his eight career titles on clay and is the first Norwegian to reach a Grand Slam final, having trained at Nadal's academy in Manacor since 2018.
A Unique Dynamic in the Final

Despite never having faced each other professionally, Ruud acknowledges Nadal's superiority in practice sessions, admitting he has been consistently defeated by the Spaniard. Ruud regards Nadal as his idol and the undisputed greatest clay court player of all time. Nadal, in turn, has spoken positively about Ruud's character and learning attitude, noting his academy's role in his development. A win for Nadal would also mark his first Australian Open-French Open double in the same calendar year.

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Can Nadal overcome his foot injury to win Roland Garros?

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