Casper Ruud will reportedly be Rafael Nadal’s opponent for the Spaniard’s Latin America Tour, per Danny Miche. Nadal, a record 22-time Grand Slam champion, is planning to hold an exhibition tour in November. Ruud, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, grew up watching and idolizing Nadal.
Now, Ruud will reportedly have a chance to play Nadal in several exhibition matches.
BREAKING 🚨
According to @dannymiche, Casper Ruud will be Rafael Nadal’s opponent for the Spaniard’s Latin America Exhibition Tour, that will take place in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.
pic.twitter.com/UdC4uISbJX — Relevant Tennis | Stats & Info (@RelevantTennis) September 11, 2022
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El rival en la gira de Nadal por Latinoamerica (Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador y México) será Casper Ruud.La fecha en Argentina será el 23/11 pic.twitter.com/RhwftO6tEs — Danny Miche (@dannymiche) September 11, 2022
Ruud faced Nadal in his first Grand Slam final
Ruud, 23, made his first Grand Slam final at this year’s French Open.
In his first Grand Slam final, Ruud clashed the player he grew up watching and idolizing, Nadal. Unfortunately for Ruud, he didn’t stand a chance versus Nadal as the Spaniard handed him a 6-3 6-3 6-0 loss. After reaching his second Grand Slam final at the US Open, Ruud admitted that he was hoping his second Grand Slam wouldn’t be facing Nadal at Roland Garros.
“(Nadal) obviously gave me a good beating,” Ruud said. “After the final I said, ‘if I ever reach one again, I hope it is not Rafa on the other side of the court in Roland Garros’, because it’s sort of an impossible task I think for any player.”
When Ruud was a kid, he used to play multiple sports. But at the age of 12, Ruud started giving more focus to tennis as his journey was inspired by Nadal. “He has something special in a way, and from that point I was, more into it.
I didn’t feel like we were pushing him. He was already starting to look at Rafa [Nadal] and that was his idol, so he really was into the tennis world and he wanted to be on that center court one day,” Ruud’s father Christian said. Whenever Ruud is asked about Nadal, he always has only words of respect and respect for the Spaniard.
