French Open: Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud into men’s final on day of injury and protest drama
- Alexander Zverev suffers sickening ankle injury in semi-final against Nadal with match tightly poised at 7-6, 6-6
- Nadal becomes the second oldest man to make the final in Paris after 37-year-old Bill Tilden who was runner-up in 1930
Rafael Nadal has reached his 14th French Open final after Alexander Zverev was forced to quit their last-four clash after suffering a sickening right ankle injury on a day of drama at Roland Garros.
On Sunday, Nadal will play in his 30th grand slam final when he tackles Casper Ruud, the first Norwegian man to make a championship match at the majors.
Nadal was 7-6, 6-6 ahead when Zverev was forced to quit, while Ruud saw off Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in his semi-final which was held up when an environmental protester ran onto the court and tied herself to the net.
Zverev turned his ankle as he chased down the ball in front of the players’ boxes on Court Philippe Chatrier where his shocked team and family were sitting.
As his piercing screams of pain echoed around the 15,000-seater court, a tearful Zverev was taken off the court in a wheelchair as a concerned Nadal looked on.
Minutes later, the 25-year-old returned on crutches and conceded the match, with Nadal embracing his heartbroken opponent.
“If you are human, you feel sorry for a colleague,” said 13-time French Open champion Nadal. “It’s very tough and very sad for him. He was playing an unbelievable tournament and he’s a very good colleague on the tour.