2022 French Open men’s singles final live: Rafael Nadal versus Casper Ruud

"It's a real pleasure to play with you in a final here at Roland Garros. I want to congratulate you for the amazing career you are having and especially for these two weeks, which are a very important step forward, so I am very, very happy for you. You are doing great, you are great."

Nadal also thanks his family and team and hails the French support. He concludes by saying he will do what he can to keep going, which possibly allays the fears of an immediate retirement from the sport.

Rafael Nadal has won his 14th French Open title after producing a ruthless 6-3 6-3 6-0 win over Casper Ruud on Sunday afternoon.

Read James Kilpatrick's match report below.

“First thing, and most important thing, is to congratulate Rafa. It’s your 14th time (winning) here, and the 22nd in Grand Slams. We all know what a champion you are and today I got to feel what it’s like to play you in a Grand Slam final. It’s not easy but I’m not the first victim, there have been many before me!"

He adds: "You are a true inspiration to everyone who enjoys tennis around the world. We all hope you continue for some more time.”

Nadal become just the third player to claim four Top-10 victories at a Grand Slam event since the ATP Rankings began in 1973 (also Mats Wilander at 1982 Roland Garros, Federer at 2017 Australian Open).

The King of Clay reigns supreme once again. Rafael Nadal secures his 14th French Open crown and his 22nd Grand Slam title to move two majors ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the men’s all-time leaderboard.

The 36-year-old breaks on his second match point with a backhand up the line to clinch a third-set bagel and complete victory in two hours and 18 minutes.

He becomes the oldest man to win the Roland-Garros singles title and has now lifted the Australian Open and Roland Garros trophies in the same year for the first time.

Nadal moves to within a game of glory. He sizzles yet another backhand winner and then floats into the net to complete a delightful serve and volley. Ruud flashes another forehand long to end the game to 15 and that fat lady is warming up to sing for the Norwegian and his hopes…

It’s the insurance break as Nadal clocks up a NINTH game on the spin. He picks Ruud off at the net with a backhand pass and then nails a crosscourt winner off the same wing. Ruud looks lost and forlorn as he dumps a volley into the net to cough up another break to love.

Nadal is punished for a casual volley and has to work hard from 15-30 down. He rattles a pair of crosscourt forehands to take control before Ruud helps him over the line with a very make-able drop shot into the net. The Spaniard consolidates and remains firmly on course for yet another Roland-Garros title.

Nadal refuses to give his academy graduate any respite as he punishes an unfortunate net cord with a brutal forehand winner before a crisp crosscourt backhand secures the break and a seventh game in a row.

Rafa disappeared to change his clothes between sets and returns by repeatedly attacking the tiring Ruud backhand. It reaps the rewards as he eases to a game to 15 to secure the scoreboard advantage at the start of Set 3.

Can Ruud produce the greatest of all comebacks from here? Nadal has never lost in a five-set match at Roland-Garros.

Nadal races through the gears to put that Ruud backhand under all sorts of pressure. A crunching forehand clocks up two set points but the Norwegian finds clutch mode on serve to somehow fend off both and then a third from deuce. Nadal keeps on knocking though and anticipates Casper’s crosscourt forehand to slot a lovely winner up the line. Ruud eventually cracks under the intensity of it all and double faults to gift the King of Clay a two-set lead.

Nadal appears to have the bit between his teeth at the moment. He’s found the first serve and it makes this game to consolidate very routine. He slams an ace down the T to close out a love hold.

Ruud flashes a forehand long and feels the heat at 30-30. He responds with a dominant point that he finishes with a smash at the net before he clips the net with a backhand that diverts long. Nadal senses the moment at deuce and scorches a brilliant return that he backs up with a trademark crosscourt forehand winner. The Spaniard then picks up a drop shot that Ruud can only lob long and it’s the 13-time champion who moves into the ascendancy at the business end of this set.