As the sun beat down on Saturday, in over 25 degrees of heat, Rafael Nadal was training at Roland Garros in preparation for his final against Casper Ruud. Surrounded by his family and friends in the stands, and accompanied by his team, Spaniard put the finishing touches on his game as he prepares to do battle for the Musketeers Cup for the 14th time.

“There’s still work to be done and it’s the most important work, closing out the tournament,” warned coach Carlos Moya in conversation with ATPTour.com. “We’ll see how it goes Sunday, there is a lot of wear and tear but it’s the final push.

“It’s not the way you want to reach a final. We’re very sorry for [Alexander] Zverev and we wish him a speedy recovery. So far, Rafa has done an astonishing job of surviving without playing his best tennis. It was an epic effort up to the moment when Zverev was injured.”

_{^{Photo Credit: Getty Images}}

Now, Nadal can turn his attention to Ruud, who has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar since August 2018. Although they have never crossed swords in anger (Sunday’s tie will be the first match in their ATP Head2Head series), they know each other very well.

“Those of us that are close to Rafa knows how good Casper is,” explained Moya. “We have a lot of respect for him and are anticipating a long and hard battle. He’s a player who knows the intricacies of this surface very well and it’s going to be a tough match. He’s very confident. He’s one of the best clay players on Tour. We expect a battle from the baseline, with long rallies.”

However, it will be Ruud’s first Grand Slam final and experience may be key.

“It’s not the easiest place to play your first Grand Slam final,” admitted Moya. “And anything can happen. I won’t get tired of saying it; we’re talking about Roland Garros and Rafa Nadal.”

Now, the opportunity to pull away in the Grand Slam titles race is just one victory away for Nadal. The Spaniard is searching for a record-extending 22nd major title, with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer tied on 20. However, it is a subject that has not been broached in the fifth seed’s camp, not now or at any time over the past two weeks.

“We haven’t spoken about number 22,” admitted Moya. “Obviously, it’s on the horizon, but that would add pressure to Rafa. It’s not necessary,” he continued. “The fact that he has won 13 Roland Garros [titles], maybe 14 tomorrow, … is practically impossible to beat. In 17 years, with all the injuries he’s had, he hasn’t spent a single week outside the Top 10 and has achieved all of that. It is incredible.”

If he had not come through such adversity when embarking on his professional career, Marcelo Arevalo believes he would not have come so far.

Travelling for up to 20 hours by bus from one country to another, sharing beds with his peers and stringing their racquets to scrape together enough money to eat dinner. Without the lessons learned from his baptism of fire, it is unlikely Arevalo would be stepping onto court on Thursday at Roland Garros as the first Central American doubles player in history to reach a Grand Slam final.

“Sacrifice makes you stronger, as does seeing that things aren’t so easy to achieve and that you have to work to get them,” the 31-year-old El Salvadorian told ATPTour.com. “Good things are hard to get. I feel that is something that personally has given me mental strength. To keep fighting for my dream of being a professional tennis player and competing in the biggest tournaments.”

That dream was born at six years of age in Sonsonate, just over an hour from San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. There, at the club where his parents (Rafale and Sofia) and his siblings (Erika and Rafael) would go every Sunday, Marcelo tried out his first racquet; a yellow Head Radical like that of his hero Andre Agassi. Although the American’s 1990s battles against countryman Pete Sampras were Arevalo’s inspiration, the man known as ‘Chelo’ always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his brother Rafael, four years his senior.

As he grew older, Arevalo realised that if he wanted to emulate Rafael (who reached No. 374 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in 2008), he would have to leave the country to play in tournaments. Comfort was not the priority. “I wasn’t privileged, but I cannot complain either,” said Arevalo. “I always had the support of my family, which is the most important thing. That gives you a lot of security. We weren’t a family with lots of money, but my parents always made an effort to send me to the tournaments. Obviously, you had to make sacrifices when you travelled.”

Often, the best option was the bus, even when he had to cross borders and spend more than 20 hours on the road to reach tournament venues in Costa Rica, Mexico and other countries in the region. Austerity continued to rule when he arrived at tournaments, where he almost always shared accommodation. Once in 2007, he shared a twin room with five other tennis players.

“That was the most challenging thing that happened to me,” said Arevalo. “There were only two beds and we would take turns. You had to win to sleep in a bed with another player. And if you lost, you’d sleep on a duvet on the floor.”

As well as focussing on his on-court performance, he would sometimes also have to turn his attention to washing kit, which he would then hang on balconies or in bathrooms in the accommodation. And he was never guaranteed food.

“In Juniors and Futures I travelled with my stringing machine, a Barton that my dad bought at a tournament in Costa Rica from Gonzalo Tur, who now travels as [Andrés] Molteni’s coach. That machine had already strung thousands of racquets by the time I got my hands on it, but it really helped me save and earn some money,” said Arevalo.

“I would string my racquets, and other people’s. And if at the tournament venue they charged 10 dollars, I would charge seven. It worked well. I remember that if I strung one or two racquets for others, I would always say, ‘That’s for lunch’. I would say it as a joke, but it was actually very true,” added Arevalo, who was the No. 8-ranked junior in the world in 2008.

Arevalo always found a way to make sure he had food while competing away from home. He remembers one example from a tournament in Mexico when he was a teenager. His lunch was cheap bread with tinned tuna from the supermarket, which he would alternate with 75 cent tacos bought opposite a fire station. On other occasions, he would simply have a late breakfast and lunch in order to save his dinner money.

“We couldn’t afford ourselves the luxury of going to a restaurant to eat pasta or meat,” explains Arevalo. “But we always ate. Many tennis players have been through the same thing, especially in our region. It wasn’t easy for us, but it makes you tough.”

At one point, however, he began to doubt his potential, and decided to study business management at the University of Tulsa, where he continued to compete at university level.

Two years later he rediscovered the belief that he could become what he had always dreamed of, leaving university and setting his sights on the ATP Tour once more. Starting from zero, he travelled on a shoestring just as he used to, never complaining when he had to drive a hire car for 15 hours to get to a tournament in Houston or when he had to ask to stay with his peers in their hotel room.

Austerity started to become a thing of the past when his tournament earnings began to grow. The maturity he had acquired at university also helped him establish himself on the ATP Challenger Tour (where he won three singles titles) and reach his best singles position (No. 138) in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. But there was soon another obstacle in his path.

A hernia in Arevalo’s back meant that he was unable to fulfil his goal that season of continuing to progress. However, realising that his injury was not such a burden when playing doubles, he started to lean more towards that discipline. His final year competing in singles came in 2019. Since then he has enjoyed a steady progression in doubles. His win alongside Jean-Julien Rojer over Rohan Bopanna and Matwe Middelkoop in the semi-finals at Roland Garros on Thursday was his 100th as an ATP Tour doubles player.

On Saturday in Paris, he will be battling it out for his fifth tour-level title and the biggest of his career against Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek. Regardless of the result, he and Rojer will move into the Top 3 of the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Rankings as a result of their run in the French capital, giving Arevalo hope of qualifying for November’s Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in his career.

“It has not been an easy road, and certainly not a short one either,” said Arevalo, who on Monday will also break into the Top 20 of the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings for the first time. “My story has been one of hard work, climbing the ranks, fighting every week. On the way I faced difficult moments, [but] things came little by little and I always believed I could do it.”

It is master vs. apprentice for the title at Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud may be facing off for the first time in Sunday’s championship match in Paris, but that doesn’t mean the pair don’t know a thing or two about each other.

Eighth seed Ruud has trained at the Spaniard’s academy in Mallorca since September 2018, and that link has Nadal feeling extra positive as he bids for a 14th Roland Garros crown and record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title at 3pm local time (CEST).

“I think in the academy we were able to help him a little bit during this period of time,” said the Spaniard after booking his spot in Sunday’s final at the clay-court major. “But more than [anything], as I always say, I like to see [a] good person achieving his dreams.

“I’m happy for him. I’m happy for his mum, dad. I know them very well. They are a super-healthy family and great people. As always, I am super happy when I see these great people having success.”

For Ruud, facing his childhood idol for the first time would be an exciting challenge no matter the setting, but the Norwegian admitted it is a fitting climax to his dream run this fortnight in Paris.

“It is amazing…He is the last player of the Big 3 and the very top players in the world I have never played against,” said Ruud of Nadal after beating Marin Cilic on Friday to book his spot in a first major final. “So, I guess this is perfect timing and worth the wait. To finally play him in a Grand Slam final will be a special moment for me. Hopefully a little bit for him as well.

“He has played so many finals, but at least he is playing a student from his academy this time. So, it is going to be a fun one hopefully.”

With Nadal chasing a record-extending 14th title in Paris and Ruud seeking a maiden Grand Slam crown, ATPTour.com looks at some key components behind Sunday’s championship match.

View Schedule | View Singles Draw

^{Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}

[5] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. [8] Casper Ruud (NOR)

Nadal has long been anointed the ‘King of Clay’, but the 36-year-old’s hunger for further Grand Slam success has burned as bright as ever this fortnight in Paris. Instead, the Spaniard’s major concern arriving in the French capital was how his body would hold up after he struggled with a chronic foot injury in defeat to Denis Shapovalov in Rome just over three weeks ago.

That has not stopped him coming through some gruelling battles on his way to a 14th final at Roland Garros. After opening with routine wins over Jordan Thompson, Corentin Moutet and Botic van de Zandschulp, Nadal edged a five-set thriller with Felix Auger-Aliassime before prevailing in a quarter-final classic against Novak Djokovic. The three hours spent on court before his opponent Alexander Zverev retired in the semi-finals brings Nadal’s time on court in his past three matches to 11 hours, 46 minutes, but the heavy workload is nothing new for the Spaniard.

“Physically I’m OK,” said Nadal in his press conference following the Zverev match. “Normally my problem is not the physical performance…Of course today the conditions have been very hot, super humid. I know from experience that when these conditions happen, I suffer a little bit more in terms of [physicality].

If Nadal can maintain his unbeaten record in championship matches at Roland Garros against Ruud, the 36-year-old will pass fellow Spaniard Andres Gimeno as the oldest Roland Garros men’s singles champion in history.

Oldest Roland Garros Men’s Singles Champions:

After clinching a record 21st major title at the Australian Open in January, Nadal can move two Grand Slam crowns clear of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer with victory on Sunday. The Serbian and Swiss are tied on 20 major trophies. A successful outcome for Nadal would also represent the first time he has completed the Australian Open-Roland Garros double in a calendar year.

Should he win, Nadal will draw level with current Tour leader Carlos Alcaraz’s four titles for 2022, having clinched trophies in Melbourne and Acapulco alongside his Australian Open triumph. A win-loss record of 111-3 at Roland Garros certainly suggests the Spaniard will be difficult to stop as he seeks to write yet more history in Paris.

In contrast to Nadal’s familiarity with stepping onto Court Philippe Chatrier for a Roland Garros final, Ruud was in uncharted territory as early as his quarter-final clash with Holger Rune. The Norwegian had not been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam until this fortnight in Paris, but there were few signs of nerves from the 23-year-old as he recovered from a set down to oust Marin Cilic in the semi-finals.

Although Ruud’s longest match of the tournament was his opening three-hour, 49-minute win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Norwegian has spent 18 hours and two minutes on court in Paris, just six minutes fewer than Nadal overall. After downing Tsonga in four sets, the 23-year-old beat Emil Ruusuvuori, Lorenzo Sonego, Hubert Hurkacz, Rune and Cilic to become the first Norwegian to reach a Grand Slam final.

^{Photo Credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images}

Ruud can look to some promising numbers as he bids to become the first man to beat Nadal in a final at Roland Garros. The World No. 8 has fired 52 aces in the tournament so far compared to just 13 for Nadal, also striking more winners (259 to 204) and fewer unforced errors (138 to 166) than his opponent. The Ruud forehand in particular has developed into one of the most fearsome weapons on Tour, and the Norwegian will need it to fire if he wants to make a dent in the Nadal defence.

Regardless of the result, Ruud will rise to a career-high No. 6 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday. The Norwegian has already picked up titles in Buenos Aires and Geneva this season and also reached a maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami in March.

If he can find a way to get past Nadal, it would be the crowning achievement for three seasons of clay-court success for Ruud. The Norwegian has won 66 matches on the surface since 2020, 15 more than anyone else on Tour.

Most ATP Tour Match Wins On Clay, 2020-22:

Ruud’s strong displays on clay have brought him seven tour-level titles on clay, but he is yet to lift a trophy above ATP 250 level. Yet even considering Nadal’s own unrivalled record on the surface, the Spaniard will be wary of Ruud. “For me, [it] is not a big surprise,” said Nadal when asked about the Norwegian’s run in Paris. “Casper is one of the candidates [for] winning in every clay-court event that he’s playing. [It’s] not a big surprise at all.”

Did You Know?
Nadal and Ruud’s clash will be the first Grand Slam final with a first-time meeting since the 2008 Australian Open championship match between Djokovic and Tsonga.

Stefanos Tsitsipas will make his debut at the BOSS OPEN after accepting a wild card into the ATP 250 grass-court event, which will take place in Stuttgart from 6-12 June.

It will be the first time that the Greek has competed on grass this season. Last year, the 23-year-old played just one match on the surface, losing to Frances Tiafoe in the first round at Wimbledon.

Let’s make his first time in #Stuttgart special! We are excited to announce that @steftsitsipas gets a wildcard and is going to play at the #BOSSOPEN this year. pic.twitter.com/5Y4oZinBin

— BOSS OPEN (@theweissenhof) June 3, 2022

Tsitsipas arrives in Stuttgart off the back of a fourth-round exit to #NextGenATP Dane Holger Rune at Roland Garros. He is currently 34-11 on the season, having captured his second ATP Masters 1000 crown in Monte Carlo in April.

In a strong field, Matteo Berrettini, Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov will also be competing. Marin Cilic clinched the trophy at the ATP 250 event last season, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final.

Casper Ruud continues to thrive in his maiden trip deep into the second week of a Grand Slam. The 23-year-old advanced to his first major quarter-final earlier this fortnight — becoming the first Norwegian man to reach that stage — and is now through to the final after a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory against Marin Cilic in Friday’s semi-finals.

The eighth seed will face Rafael Nadal for the first time in Sunday’s final as he bids to deny the Spaniard a record-extending 14th Roland Garros crown and 22nd Grand Slam singles title. Ruud has trained at the Spaniard’s academy in Mallorca since September 2018, adding to the intrigue ahead of the championship match.

“It is amazing… He is the last player of the Big 3 and the very top players in the world I have never played against,” Ruud said of Nadal in an on-court interview. “So I guess this is perfect timing and worth the wait. To finally play him in a Grand Slam final will be a special moment for me. Hopefully a little bit for him as well.

“He has played so many finals, but at least he is playing a student from his academy this time. So it is going to be a fun one hopefully.”

After Cilic powered through the opening set behind two late breaks, Ruud began a methodical comeback that picked up steam as the match progressed. The Croatian dominated the early rallies, winning and losing points on his own terms, before Ruud gained traction behind his high-rpm ground strokes.

After spending much of the opening set on defense, the Norwegian began to pull his opponent around by finding the corners with heavy spin. After an early break in the second, he served out the 6-4 set by winning five straight points to escape a 0/40 hole, finding several big serves and forehands during what proved to be the crucial moment of the contest.

The story of the match can be tracked by the winners-to-unforced errors counts for both men. After Ruud struck just three winners (and five errors) in the opening set, he hit 16, 12, and 10 in the final three, outpacing his error count by a healthy margin in each. Cilic produced a plus-four ratio in the opening two sets but a minus-nine mark in the last two.

“It was a great match from my side,” Ruud said. “I didn’t start the greatest, but Marin also played well in the first set. I was too defensive and then I was able to break him in the second set and that got me going again. From that break I played some of my best tennis this year. Serving well, playing aggressive, So I am super happy with my performance today.”

Maiden Slam final mood 😃@CasperRuud98 becomes the first Norwegian man in history to reach a Grand Slam #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ShQEPIOwFh

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 3, 2022

The only thing that could stop Ruud’s momentum was a protestor who locked herself to the net with the Norwegian leading by a double break in the third set. But after a brief delay during which both players left the court, he finished the job at 10:15 p.m., closing out the win in just under three hours.

He improves to 3-0 against Cilic in their ATP Head2Head series, with one win each year since 2020. Following the victory, Ruud rises above Carlos Alcaraz to No. 6 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings. He is now projected to reach a career-high in Monday’s Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

An eight-time tour-level titlist, Ruud leads the ATP Tour in clay wins (66), titles (seven) and finals (eight, including Roland Garros) since the start of 2022. But he had not yet been able to translate that success to the Grand Slams, where a 2021 Australian Open fourth-round run was his previous best result. Ruud entered this Paris fortnight with a 7-4 record at Roland Garros and three straight third-round exits. He can match his previous wins total with a victory against Nadal on Sunday.

Cilic was bidding for his fourth major final and had the opportunity to become fifth active man to reach the final of all four Slams. The World No. 23 would have been the lowest-ranked Roland Garros semi-finalist since No 25 Robin Soderling in 2009.