Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud’s teamwork went to another level at the Bastad Open this week. The duo, affectionately nicknamed “Ruudal” by fans, saved a match point in a nail-biting tie-break to reach the doubles semi-finals on Wednesday.
Their victory against the French-Russian pair of Theo Arribage and Roman Safiullin was a rollercoaster ride. Nadal and Ruud took the first set 6-4 but found themselves pushed back in the second, losing it 3-6. The tension soared in the deciding set tie-break when Arribage and Safiullin held a match point at 9-10.
But champions rise to the occasion, and that’s exactly what Ruudal did. They clawed their way back, winning the next three points in a row. A backhand volley winner by Nadal sealed the deal, sending the crowd into a frenzy and securing their place in the last four.
“I think we had some fun,” said Nadal after the match. “It was an emotional match at the end, a good level of tennis against two good players.” He also praised the electric atmosphere, noting, “Full crowd in a doubles match, that’s fantastic.”
This win comes after a bittersweet day for Ruud. He was knocked out of the singles competition earlier on Wednesday. But partnering with the legendary Nadal provided a much-needed boost, and their fighting spirit shone through.
The victory has also given birth to a new nickname for the pair. When asked about “Ruudal,” Nadal chuckled and said, “I have Fedal [his historic partnership with Roger Federer], and now Ruudal… so both!”
With their camaraderie and fighting spirit on display, Nadal and Ruud are a force to be reckoned with in the remaining rounds. Tennis fans will be eagerly waiting to see if Ruudal can continue their magical run in Bastad.
