Rafael Nadal becomes 1st player to reach multiple Grand Slam finals in 11 separate seasons 

Twenty-one-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal is gearing up to take on Casper Ruud in the French Open final. The Spaniard has reached this stage of the competition on 13 previous occasions, winning each time.

By reaching the Roland Garros final this year, Nadal has become the first player to advance to multiple Grand Slam titles clashes in 11 separate seasons. The Spaniard won the Australian Open in January.

Nadal reached the finals of two Grand Slams in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014 and and 2022. In 2010, 2011, 2017 and 2019, the Spaniard went one better, making three Major finals.

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Rafael Nadal's road to the French Open final

Nadal in action against Zverev at the 2022 French Open - Day 13

Rafael Nadal will continue his pursuit of a 22nd Grand Slam and 14th French Open title when he takes on Casper Ruud in the final of the French Open on Sunday. The Spaniard came into the tournament with major concerns over his chronic foot injury, which flared up at the Rome Masters in May.

But Nadal hasn't been bothered by his foot in Paris, cruising into the fourth round of the Major without dropping a set. However, against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the round of 16, Nadal was challenged all the way before coming out on top in a five-set thriller.

Against Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, Nadal played perhaps his best match of the tournament. The Spaniard took out the World No. 1 in four exhilarating sets, avenging his semifinal defeat from last year.

Nadal went up against World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. In a grueling encounter, the Spaniard won the first set after trailing 6-2 in the tie-break. With the second set also heading to a tie-break, Zverev was struck down with a terrible ankle injury that ended his campaign.