The French Open men’s singles final has been set and it will be contested between Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud.

Date: June 5, 2022

Match time: 3 PM local time / 9 AM EDT –  New York, Montreal /  2 PM BST – United Kingdom / 3 PM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.

Rafa on playing Casper:

I have a huge respect for [Ruud]. First of all in terms of a friend, he has a great character. He’s a great guy, and he has a great family. Honestly, no? That’s the main thing. As a player, of course, I respect a lot him. He did a lot of great things the last couple of years.

Casper on playing Rafa:

He’s been my idol for all my life. I guess this was perfect timing to play him for the first time in a Grand Slam final. At least he’s playing a student from his academy so hope it’s a fun one.

Playing Rafa in a Roland-Garros final is the toughest challenge in our sport probably. I will be the underdog, I’ll try to enjoy, I’ll have to believe that I can do it.

Prior to this season, Casper was thought of as a clay-court specialist. Seven of his eight titles (all at the 250 level) have come on the red stuff. His hard-court games has improved this season, highlighted by a runner-up showing at the Miami Masters (lost to Alcaraz).

Rafa is aiming to capture his 14th Roland Garros crown this weekend at the clay-court major. If he overcomes Casper in final on Sunday, he will eclipse countryman Andres Gimeno and become the oldest champion in tournament history. The only older men’s finalist in Paris was Bill Tilden, the runner-up at 37 in 1930.

Should Rafa win Roland Garros, he’ll extend his record-setting men’s Grand Slam single haul to 22, which would put him two ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Also, it would be the first time our champ ever has won the first two legs of the calendar-year Grand Slam.

Rafa is 8-1 against players trying to win their first career Grand Slam title. Casper will try to join Stan Wawrinka, who beat Rafal in 2014 Australian Open final, as the only player to win his first Grand Slam title against the Spaniard.

Rafa has lost just seven sets during the 13 finals he has played in Paris. He has defeated Roger Federer (four times), Novak Djokovic (thrice), Dominic Thiem (twice), Robin Soderling, David Ferrer, Stan Wawrinka and Mariano Puerta in his previous Roland Garros title clashes.

GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!