Break Point (2023) s01e05 Episode Script
King of Clay
1
The French capital
hosts the second Grand Slam of the year.
Welcome to Roland-Garros.
The French Open is tough.
Because your body doesn't quite know
what it's about to face.
Over the past two decades,
there's been thousands of men and women
who have come here
hoping to lift the crown.
But since 2005 on the men's side,
there's just one that's dominated.
The most successful
man in the tournament's history.
The king of clay.
The Spaniard, Rafael Nadal!
Rafael Nadal steps out
onto what has often been described
as his living room.
His record here is phenomenal.
105 wins, only three losses.
He comes here and he is
the embodiment of self-confidence.
I want absolutely no piece of Rafa
on a clay court.
Conversation has largely become,
"Who has the potential to stop Rafa?"
And the answer is, "Not many."
You don't want to have Rafa.
There is no better mover on the surface.
You watch Rafa on clay,
the sliding isn't an issue,
whereas someone like me,
who didn't grow up on the surface,
I look like an elephant on roller skates.
I always say that you don't win
a Grand Slam with your tennis.
You win a Grand Slam with your heart.
To try to beat
Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros
continues to be
the toughest ask in tennis.
I mean, just grit and perseverance.
Forget about just tennis.
Is there a harder thing to do in all
of sports?
Sascha was in here earlier and
said, just watching you on these courts,
he felt like your ball was coming off
your racket at 20 miles an hour faster
and that you're a 30% better player here
than almost anywhere else.
30% better player here than in the rest
of places or the rest of the players?
No
That would be nice.
Actually, I was for a while, but
Not anymore, I think.
In the sport, things can change quick,
and the only thing
that I can do is try to be ready.
Stay on that line.
- Second mark for me.
- Yeah.
I'm Félix Auger-Aliassime.
I'm 21 years old.
I'm from Montreal, Canada.
Three, two, one, action.
The expectation on Félix
has always been very high.
Even when he was 12, he was already seen
like one of the best players in the world.
At 14 he's become the
youngest player to get a world ranking.
Félix Auger-Aliassime, at just 18,
is the youngest ever ATP 500 finalist.
And action.
The big dream's to be number one
in the world, win Grand Slams.
As a kid, you saw it on TV,
but it was like a movie.
Now it's more of a reality, an objective.
Last one, guys.
- I love the challenge.
- I want you to look at me.
Lately, Félix has proven that he could be
neck-to-neck with the best in the world.
He did that in Rome with Djokovic.
- No way has he made that!
- He didn't have a chance.
With Medvédev in Australia.
He's unplayable
at the moment. Untouchable.
Flawless from Auger-Aliassime.
Three, two, one. Action.
Félix is a tennis prodigy.
But, you know, he's 21 now.
He hasn't won a big tournament yet.
He hasn't won a Grand Slam.
- Love it. Felix, thank you.
- Thank you, everybody.
So he needs to find something
to take him to the next level.
Thanks, Toni,
for all the moments you've given us.
Couple of bits of news
have taken place away from the court
is that Félix Auger-Aliassime is going
to be coached by Toni Nadal.
Just one second.
Let's go.
Hello, my name is Toni Nadal.
Any relation?
I am Rafael Nadal's uncle.
I was his coach
and now I am Rafael Nadal's uncle.
You're a legend.
I felt like I was at an age
where I could expand my team.
I wanted to work with somebody who
had gone to the highest peaks in tennis.
The first name we thought of was Toni.
Toni brings that expertise
that no other coaches on tour have.
- Can I take a picture, please?
- Yes.
He won 16 Grand Slams with Rafa.
Thank you.
Game, Nadal.
Game, second set, Nadal.
I want to say thank you very much
for everything.
Especially for my uncle. He's my coach.
I started working with Rafael
when he was three years old.
I always thought
he would be a great player.
I never imagined
that he would win so many Grand Slams.
Toni Nadal's not going to be interested in
coaching someone for shits and giggles,
so if he decides has does have
an interest in you,
that's a very big confidence boost
right away.
You know what I'd say to Rafael?
When he's paying, I tell him,
"Don't go looking for a winner.
It'll come on its own."
My style is very simple.
The harder you work,
the more chances you have to succeed.
The first thing is working with people
that respect you.
I could never train someone
who doesn't respect me.
So, a bit like a father then?
Yes, in the end, I can't train someone
who I don't appreciate greatly.
Since one year,
we are lucky to have Toni Nadal.
It was important to have external eyes
and external experience.
Going to Toni was trying
to have somebody from the outside.
Somebody who was not close to me
at the time
and could challenge me and tell me
even things that I don't want to hear.
He's playing much better
than last year.
- Yeah, on clay he is.
- He was dreadful last year.
Ah, shame.
It's fine. Go again.
The winner will come
if you strike the ball well.
There are a lot of coaches who say
we should always say
pleasant thing to the players.
But the reality is that
this creates people who are weak.
Try and find some good shots
but without looking for something amazing.
I think Félix has one
of the best forehands in the world.
I think in the next few years,
he is going to compete
to become number one.
And he is going to win
Grand Slam tournaments.
Thank you, have a nice day.
Casper Ruud has had
a fantastic start to the season.
He's a clay-court specialist
who's modelled his game on Rafael Nadal.
Some are saying this could be
his breakthrough tournament.
What should we do?
Headband on or off?
I don't mind. You decide.
I think let's go off.
I'm Casper Ruud. I'm from Norway.
I'm a professional tennis player.
Oh, ten!
When I started the year,
I was ranked number eight in the world.
And this week
I'm at a career-high number five.
So it's a good week to be me, I guess.
It doesn't feel always too real
that I reach this far,
but I try to take it in and enjoy it,
of course, as much as I can.
I love Casper Ruud. He's one of the people
who hasn't got enough hype.
He's not the person
who brings attention to himself.
He's not a self-promoter.
It started with me watching tennis on TV
when I was about five, six years old.
That was
the first Grand Slam that Rafa won.
When he won the Roland-Garros
for the first time.
I remember he had
a poster of Rafa in his bedroom.
He's been his hero since he was
seven or eight years old, I would say.
So, you know, when he started to play,
he kind of wanted to imitate Rafa.
Of course, Rafa plays best on clay.
And, in a sense, that's why
Casper's game is suited best for clay.
- How are you, man?
- Good to see you.
I joined the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2018.
In my case, it was the perfect place
to find good practice partners.
Learning from Rafa himself,
of course, and his coaches.
The Rafael Nadal Academy
caters to younger players,
trying to basically
teach them the successful method
that got Rafa Nadal to be where he is.
I'd practice with Rafa
sometimes if I was lucky
and he asked me to practice.
He'd even pop into our evening practices
to see how we were doing,
coming with advice and helping us.
Play again.
The goal this year for me is to reach
a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam.
I still haven't been able to do it.
I think that Roland-Garros
is the coolest slam.
I feel my chances are maybe a little bit
better than others because of the surface.
So it would mean
a lot to do it here for me.
Yeah, we are.
Shall I be the head of the table?
Great. Here. It's mine, yeah.
- Thank you.
- I'll try not to stain my shirt.
No mistakes allowed. You're wearing white.
I always say and I believe it,
I don't remember
a day when tennis wasn't in my life.
Not only something in my life,
the most important thing in my life.
My earliest memories,
my sister and I were in elementary school
and finished at three.
We'd spend the rest of the day
at the tennis club.
It was like a playground.
I broke a few rackets there.
- When was the last time you beat him?
- She never beat me.
No.
I recall we were, like,
almost the same level
until he went to the National Center.
So, let's say, uh
Wait. Wait, wait, wait.
No, no, no.
No, I'm saying the first time.
I'm not saying at 15.
See how defensive he is?
A bit of competition.
I always remember my dad saying,
"You need to eat tennis, to drink tennis,
to sleep tennis, to shit tennis."
It always made me laugh.
My dad was a tennis coach all his life.
Tennis was his biggest passion.
He was very, very demanding
with me and my sister.
The discipline, the respect
was the highest of priorities.
My dad always had this mentality
of trying to prepare myself
for what's to come
if I want to be a professional player.
I don't like to talk about sacrifice,
because for me, it's choices.
Uh, but Félix has to make a lot
of choices for his future career.
At six, I played my first tournament.
I came to the tournament in like a
full football jersey outfit,
to a tennis tournament.
Makes no sense.
He began to travel so young.
The first time he took a plane alone
he was nine years old.
And for me, at that time, I cried.
I can tell you that, for me it was,
I said he's too young.
It's come too fast.
My dear friend, it's your turn
To let yourself speak love ♪
Félix always traveling around the world,
does not get a lot of opportunities
to see friends and family.
That's why we wanted
to do something special.
This is the surprise.
Everyone's here.
To be honest, this is a life
that is not meant for everybody.
You need to be dedicated.
There is no way that you can
have time off.
This is superb.
I must prepare
for the tournament and I have lots to do.
So I always wonder
when I'll see my friends and family.
A lot of people tell me,
"You should be very proud of your son
and what he's doing."
For me, I didn't raise a tennis player.
I raised a child who I expect to become
a man, you know, with good values.
I'm proud of the man he is.
Auger-Aliassime is probably
a little nervous, don't you think?
Success at Roland-Garros hasn't really
been something he's tasted before.
I enter every tournament knowing
that potentially I could win.
But I was coming in never having won
a match at the French Open.
There's sometimes a little bit
of uncertainty and doubts that creep in.
There are moments during matches where,
I don't know about you,
but I know Rafael gets nervous.
Do you normally get nervous
before going out?
I'm alright.
During the first few days.
It's good stress.
There are moments where I look at Rafa
and I can see that he's crying.
I prefer to be on the court.
Félix Auger-Aliassime.
What I can bring to Félix
is my experience.
A person's main talent in life
is the capacity to learn.
With what I say, I think he can succeed.
Come on!
What I like about Toni's approach
is the belief, the confidence.
He's looking more aggressive.
He brings a lot into my team.
If we do things well,
then good things will come.
- He's done it.
- Set and match, Auger-Aliassime.
The Norwegian Casper Ruud
is showing his form on the clay.
And his side of the draw
has really opened up.
I mean, it's obvious that
one side looks stronger than the other.
This is the time.
This is the moment to step up.
Félix Auger-Aliassime
in on the tough side of the draw.
He could face
Toni Nadal's nephew, Rafa,
in the next round,
if both men win their matches today.
Game, set and match, Auger-Aliassime.
Three sets to love. 7-6, 7-6, 7-5.
Bravo, Félix.
How's Rafa getting on?
He's not won yet.
He's done it.
Rafael Nadal seals his spot
in the last 16.
He'll now go into battle
against Félix Auger-Aliassime,
who has uncle Toni in his team.
It's sure to make things awkward
for everyone involved.
Toni Nadal is now working with you
in the Grand Slam.
Will he be in the box?
Will he be able
to help you tactically or not at all?
We haven't spoken much about this yet.
Thank you.
Hi, Rafa.
Obviously your uncle is coaching Félix.
Will it be awkward for you when you play?
I knew that you were going to ask me
That you guys were going to ask
the question.
For me, it's very simple.
He's my uncle.
I don't think, uh, he will be able to
to want me to lose, without a doubt.
But he's a professional.
He's with another player.
I don't know what's going to happen,
if he's going to stay in the box or not.
But I don't care.
I know the feelings we have
between each other.
I know he wants the best for me
and now he's helping another player.
What is dangerous is that you can't use
the inside line too soon.
- You have to make him move
- Very good.
Good match. You played well.
But you lost your concentration once
at the start of the third set.
You could say I've got a lot more to come.
- Tomorrow against Rafael on court 14.
- Yeah.
I think that, for Félix,
you want to be able to look courtside.
You want to know that your coach
is literally in your box, in your corner.
You commit with a player.
It's a professional commitment.
The professional commitment says,
"I'm going to be with you 100%."
"100%."
"And I'm going to do everything
to help you be the best you can."
"That's my job and my role.
I take it more than seriously."
How will you support Félix
before this match?
I can't really say much,
I can't really tell Félix
how to beat Rafael.
To tell the truth,
I want my nephew to win.
He's my nephew
and he's more than a nephew to me.
I want my nephew to win.
Uncle Toni
gave interviews explicitly saying,
"Okay, Félix is my guy that pays me,
but I'm supporting Rafa today."
I can't believe
he said that. I can't believe it.
I would be surprised
if that relationship survives this.
You're doing great
with Félix.
That's his choice, to say that he would
prefer Rafa to win than his player.
That's his choice. Would I do that?
No, I'd never do that.
I have my principles
and my principles are my own.
I won't change them.
Hey, how are you doing?
Félix is in the other corner.
Are you allowed to be on this side?
Yeah, I mean
Come on.
He said he won't sit in either box.
Sure. But does he
withhold his coaching expertise?
Who's he cheering for?
If I'm Félix, I'll always have in my head,
"I wonder what I've left on the table
by not knowing
what Toni Nadal thinks
I should have done to beat his nephew."
It was clear to me,
once we started working together,
that if I had to play Rafa,
he wouldn't want me to win.
He wouldn't want me to beat his nephew.
We respect the fact that it's family.
He doesn't want to put himself
in conflict of interest. It's all good.
For us, it was understood.
To win at this level,
the biggest challenge
is always to try and beat
someone like Nadal here.
But you must believe in yourself.
You must believe you can beat the best.
It's such a good idea
to watch matches where he wins.
I'm not kidding.
Yeah, I guess so.
My father always challenged me.
He also has that competitive mindset.
So I think I inherited it from him.
I played professional for about ten years.
And I reached ranking of 39,
which I was happy with.
Game, Ruud.
That was the number to beat for me
when I grew up.
I'm surprised he beat my ranking that easy
because it's a tough sport.
Perfect.
- Thank you.
- Welcome.
Everything in tennis
is very based on routines
that we want to stick to.
When you're that far in a tournament,
all you need is 15 minutes
just to feel the ball a little bit.
When that routine is completely broken,
it can set us off.
It's not us,
it's the boss. He said to do it.
Why are you not speaking English to me?
Do you think I know French?
I spoke with the boss, he said no.
The rain's coming now, look.
Does the boss speak English?
He doesn't speak English.
Who's in charge?
We lost ten minutes that we could play.
This guy wants to have the covers
when it's not raining.
If it starts to rain, yes,
take the covers, just like in a match.
If it starts to rain,
you put the cover on.
I think the biggest advantage
of being also the dad and the coach is
you give 110% because, of course,
everyone wants their children to succeed.
First, he decides Casper can't play
without rain.
If we want to play in the drizzle,
we want to play in the drizzle.
We are here for you, but
You have the best clay courts
in the world. They can take some water.
We asked the chief
But the chief is not here,
so how can you know?
He's probably inside saying,
"It's going to rain. You have to stop."
You're here and you understand
this is not much rain.
We have to follow orders.
We are paid to do that.
Then you should have told them
to come here.
Who is more important? Him or the players?
We're the ones playing the tournament.
- Who's going to play the match? Him or me?
- I have to follow orders.
Yes, but what about our request?
It's unbelievable. We could have
played already for 15 minutes.
Today's big match
is billed as the "Uncle Toni Derby."
Thirteen-time Roland-Garros winner,
Rafael Nadal,
who, for so long,
was coached by his uncle,
is going head-to-head with Félix,
who now has Uncle Toni on his team.
All my life,
I had to help Rafael win a few matches.
And now unfortunately, I've helped
someone who can defeat my nephew.
It's a bit complicated.
I'm just young in my career,
trying to be the best player I can be.
Trying to be a champion.
Winning a Grand Slam
means everything to me.
It's something I've been chasing
for as early as I can remember.
So to play in center court,
in his house, on his court
Being the underdog. Proving people wrong.
That I could challenge him.
That I could maybe win.
It's a cool position to be in.
To get in the zone, you have to be in
this state that's very stable and focused.
Him jumping around and warming up,
running up and down next to you
It does turn up the intensity.
He is 21, a semi-finalist
at the US Open last year
and he is Canadian:
Félix Auger-Aliassime!
The demands on these players are enormous.
You need an incredible level of physical,
mental and emotional strength.
So I have a lot of admiration for my son.
From Spain, Rafael Nadal!
The 13-time Roland-Garros
champion, Rafael Nadal, steps out.
It's the Uncle Toni Derby.
But he has said he won't be
in either player's box.
Toni being there
I like him as a person. I respect him.
I was glad to see him there watching.
Félix Auger-Aliassime
is surely going to have
to take it to another level today
to take on Rafael Nadal.
Once the match started,
tactically-thinking like,
I can't let him run me around.
I can't let him dominate.
What a get
for Félix Auger-Aliassime.
That was Michael Jordan-esque.
He leads four-one.
When you're in the zone,
you're able to execute everything
the way you want it.
It's a great feeling.
Simply sensational
from the world number nine.
Set point.
Oh, yes.
Félix Auger-Aliassime takes the first set.
Things are going the way of the underdog.
But still a long, long way left to go.
What a point from Rafa.
I felt the momentum change.
Nadal takes the second set.
Feels as though Aliassime
has mentally sunk a little bit.
He started hitting much faster,
much stronger
He went up a gear.
Now dominating this encounter.
He takes the third set.
Toni Nadal.
I wonder how he's feeling right now.
I have to try, at least,
to impose myself.
Serve really well.
Take every opportunity I can
to dominate the rally
and be very aggressive.
Oh, magnificent.
The athleticism of Auger-Aliassime
it's proving a problem for Rafa.
It's three set points.
Pressure moment.
How about that? He got his mojo back.
It will be a one-set shootout
here on Chatrier.
For just the third time in Nadal's career
here at Roland-Garros.
Nadal has only been taken to five sets
twice before in these championships.
It became a difficult situation for me.
And I left the court.
I preferred not to watch.
This is going to be
tightly played out.
Listen to the noise.
After four hours,
it's about surviving.
Auger-Aliassime continues to hold his own.
And then he just hit like, boom.
Boom. And then, boom again.
I find myself break points down
and now having the pressure on me.
Sensational.
- He just went into another gear.
- Match point.
Rafael Nadal survives.
Wonderful sportsmanship
from Auger-Aliassime,
who can take so much
from being just
the third player in history
to take Nadal to five sets
here at Roland-Garros.
I think Félix found it difficult
when he lost.
But I know that he will find his way.
Thank you.
Toni, that was a special match for you.
How did you feel during this game?
Well, it's been difficult.
Félix has very big potential.
With a little bit more,
he can defeat my nephew.
Of course, it's emotionally loaded for me,
for everyone.
It's okay. It's not huge.
It also shows you're getting more
and more ready, if you see what I mean.
- That's true.
- Each time.
You'll be fighting again!
I really believe in life
you get what you deserve.
I'm proud of what
I was able to show to the world.
It gave me a lot of confidence
that I could challenge even the best.
So I have even more belief.
So I was disappointed at the time,
but I feel like
I'm nowhere near my peak yet.
Hopefully my peak is in front of me.
A present.
Form yourself, to yourself.
They're the best presents.
From me to me.
Yeah. That's great.
Casper Ruud has been
playing the best tennis of his career.
He not only reached his first
Grand Slam quarterfinal, he won it.
Match point.
Ruud is serving for a place in the final.
Casper will now play
his childhood hero, his idol,
on Philippe-Chatrier at Roland-Garros.
Playing Rafa in the final of a Grand Slam.
It's a difficult situation
because Rafa is his biggest idol.
I have been practicing with Rafa
for the last two or three years
at the academy, and he always
he always beats me in practice.
I will be the underdog.
I could probably tell you all the finals
and who he's beaten
because I watched them all on TV.
So, I will try to, you know,
tonight and tomorrow night,
dream about the great winners
and the unbelievable rallies.
That's what it's going to take
if I want to have any chance.
I'll need to play my best tennis ever.
But I still have to believe I can do it.
- Congratulations!
- Thank you.
Can I have a selfie?
I actually slept better than I feared.
You want to perform your best.
This is the biggest match ever
for me in my career.
It's tough to believe
that we can beat Rafa, Roger, and Novak.
They've been dominating like no one almost
has ever dominated in sports before.
And especially when all three of them
have been idols of you growing up.
To play Rafa in a five sets
clay-court match, on that court
It's the toughest challenge
we have in tennis, for sure.
Okay.
Now it's all business.
Get badass in your head. He fears you.
It was obviously a big match,
but I didn't want to think too much
about the consequences
and what was waiting ahead.
- How long, more or less?
- Thirty seconds.
Warm applause for Casper Ruud.
He's won a lot of fans here
with his passage through to the final.
His father, his sister,
his mum there, his girlfriend as well.
Thirteen-time winner
here at Roland-Garros.
From Spain, Rafael Nadal!
That roar when Rafa entered the arena
That starts to seep into your mindset.
Rafa! Rafa! Rafa!
I'm not going to play
a Grand Slam final
every Sunday the rest of my life.
So this might be the only one.
This might be the only chance I get.
Here we go.
The final of Roland-Garros 2022.
Bound to be a few nerves.
Hits that one wrong.
Nearly taking out James Keothavong
with the return.
But the umpire survives
as Nadal takes the opening set.
You'd like to think
that there's always a chance.
It's a rocket.
You know, he's older than me.
If there's ever a time
to actually beat him in a final,
maybe today's a big opportunity.
That's masterful.
Casper Ruud opens up a three-one lead
in the second set.
Nadal breaks back straight away.
Ruud still in front.
Three-two, second set.
Game, Nadal.
Third game in a row
for the Spaniard. He can do no wrong.
We always face tough situations,
but I need to get a hold on this game.
I mean, right now,
Ruud has lost this mental battle.
His family and team
are still trying to show encouragement.
It was not his best
tennis. He was not his best mentally.
Championship point for Rafael Nadal.
The greatest becomes even greater.
I didn't really think
that I was humiliated.
It's Rafa and it's on clay, so, I mean
I did my best. What else can I do?
It wasn't good enough. Wasn't even close.
I think that was a
fairy tale.
It was a final of a Grand Slam
and he was playing
the best player on the planet.
Ever.
Rafael Nadal!
Everyone thinks that probably
every athlete has this champion mentality.
But it's not always like that.
Being from Norway, a small tennis country
where we don't have any big history,
it's not always been easy to realize
that I can do it myself.
The hunger to win grows
even more when you lose the finals.
It is a 14th Roland-Garros title
for the greatest player
this great tournament
has ever seen and ever will see.
A 22nd Grand Slam title.
During the trophy ceremony,
Rafa came up
and put his hand around my shoulders.
Of course it put a big smile on my face.
I will always have that silver plate
back home in my place
and look at it
and be proud of what I achieved there.
I'll pray to God that I don't play
Rafa again in Roland-Garros
because it's an impossible task
to beat him.
Rafael Nadal!
Rafa! Rafa! Rafa!
There's this aura about it.
Everything is so perfect.
Proper and royal.
Violation, ball abuse.
Warning, Mr Kyrgios.
I know what I bring to the table.
If I win Wimbledon, it's like
a middle finger to everyone.
Are you kidding me?
It's bullying. That's what he does.
The first African woman in the Open era
to reach the Wimbledon final.
Life is good, you know.
The US Open is
the biggest tournament of the year.
You get goosebumps.
You're fucking ready to go.
For someone to give a shit,
you have to win your home slam.
Nightmares can become reality.
Dreams come true.
This tournament can change
your whole life.
It was fucking insane.
I'm playing
the greatest of all time.
Serena Williams.
Nobody wants me to win.
Hey, guys, we are fucked.
You're going to be
part of history no matter what.
Alcaraz feels like Rafa and Roger did.
This kid is something else, something new.
I don't feel any pressure.
I'm so excited.
The French capital
hosts the second Grand Slam of the year.
Welcome to Roland-Garros.
The French Open is tough.
Because your body doesn't quite know
what it's about to face.
Over the past two decades,
there's been thousands of men and women
who have come here
hoping to lift the crown.
But since 2005 on the men's side,
there's just one that's dominated.
The most successful
man in the tournament's history.
The king of clay.
The Spaniard, Rafael Nadal!
Rafael Nadal steps out
onto what has often been described
as his living room.
His record here is phenomenal.
105 wins, only three losses.
He comes here and he is
the embodiment of self-confidence.
I want absolutely no piece of Rafa
on a clay court.
Conversation has largely become,
"Who has the potential to stop Rafa?"
And the answer is, "Not many."
You don't want to have Rafa.
There is no better mover on the surface.
You watch Rafa on clay,
the sliding isn't an issue,
whereas someone like me,
who didn't grow up on the surface,
I look like an elephant on roller skates.
I always say that you don't win
a Grand Slam with your tennis.
You win a Grand Slam with your heart.
To try to beat
Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros
continues to be
the toughest ask in tennis.
I mean, just grit and perseverance.
Forget about just tennis.
Is there a harder thing to do in all
of sports?
Sascha was in here earlier and
said, just watching you on these courts,
he felt like your ball was coming off
your racket at 20 miles an hour faster
and that you're a 30% better player here
than almost anywhere else.
30% better player here than in the rest
of places or the rest of the players?
No
That would be nice.
Actually, I was for a while, but
Not anymore, I think.
In the sport, things can change quick,
and the only thing
that I can do is try to be ready.
Stay on that line.
- Second mark for me.
- Yeah.
I'm Félix Auger-Aliassime.
I'm 21 years old.
I'm from Montreal, Canada.
Three, two, one, action.
The expectation on Félix
has always been very high.
Even when he was 12, he was already seen
like one of the best players in the world.
At 14 he's become the
youngest player to get a world ranking.
Félix Auger-Aliassime, at just 18,
is the youngest ever ATP 500 finalist.
And action.
The big dream's to be number one
in the world, win Grand Slams.
As a kid, you saw it on TV,
but it was like a movie.
Now it's more of a reality, an objective.
Last one, guys.
- I love the challenge.
- I want you to look at me.
Lately, Félix has proven that he could be
neck-to-neck with the best in the world.
He did that in Rome with Djokovic.
- No way has he made that!
- He didn't have a chance.
With Medvédev in Australia.
He's unplayable
at the moment. Untouchable.
Flawless from Auger-Aliassime.
Three, two, one. Action.
Félix is a tennis prodigy.
But, you know, he's 21 now.
He hasn't won a big tournament yet.
He hasn't won a Grand Slam.
- Love it. Felix, thank you.
- Thank you, everybody.
So he needs to find something
to take him to the next level.
Thanks, Toni,
for all the moments you've given us.
Couple of bits of news
have taken place away from the court
is that Félix Auger-Aliassime is going
to be coached by Toni Nadal.
Just one second.
Let's go.
Hello, my name is Toni Nadal.
Any relation?
I am Rafael Nadal's uncle.
I was his coach
and now I am Rafael Nadal's uncle.
You're a legend.
I felt like I was at an age
where I could expand my team.
I wanted to work with somebody who
had gone to the highest peaks in tennis.
The first name we thought of was Toni.
Toni brings that expertise
that no other coaches on tour have.
- Can I take a picture, please?
- Yes.
He won 16 Grand Slams with Rafa.
Thank you.
Game, Nadal.
Game, second set, Nadal.
I want to say thank you very much
for everything.
Especially for my uncle. He's my coach.
I started working with Rafael
when he was three years old.
I always thought
he would be a great player.
I never imagined
that he would win so many Grand Slams.
Toni Nadal's not going to be interested in
coaching someone for shits and giggles,
so if he decides has does have
an interest in you,
that's a very big confidence boost
right away.
You know what I'd say to Rafael?
When he's paying, I tell him,
"Don't go looking for a winner.
It'll come on its own."
My style is very simple.
The harder you work,
the more chances you have to succeed.
The first thing is working with people
that respect you.
I could never train someone
who doesn't respect me.
So, a bit like a father then?
Yes, in the end, I can't train someone
who I don't appreciate greatly.
Since one year,
we are lucky to have Toni Nadal.
It was important to have external eyes
and external experience.
Going to Toni was trying
to have somebody from the outside.
Somebody who was not close to me
at the time
and could challenge me and tell me
even things that I don't want to hear.
He's playing much better
than last year.
- Yeah, on clay he is.
- He was dreadful last year.
Ah, shame.
It's fine. Go again.
The winner will come
if you strike the ball well.
There are a lot of coaches who say
we should always say
pleasant thing to the players.
But the reality is that
this creates people who are weak.
Try and find some good shots
but without looking for something amazing.
I think Félix has one
of the best forehands in the world.
I think in the next few years,
he is going to compete
to become number one.
And he is going to win
Grand Slam tournaments.
Thank you, have a nice day.
Casper Ruud has had
a fantastic start to the season.
He's a clay-court specialist
who's modelled his game on Rafael Nadal.
Some are saying this could be
his breakthrough tournament.
What should we do?
Headband on or off?
I don't mind. You decide.
I think let's go off.
I'm Casper Ruud. I'm from Norway.
I'm a professional tennis player.
Oh, ten!
When I started the year,
I was ranked number eight in the world.
And this week
I'm at a career-high number five.
So it's a good week to be me, I guess.
It doesn't feel always too real
that I reach this far,
but I try to take it in and enjoy it,
of course, as much as I can.
I love Casper Ruud. He's one of the people
who hasn't got enough hype.
He's not the person
who brings attention to himself.
He's not a self-promoter.
It started with me watching tennis on TV
when I was about five, six years old.
That was
the first Grand Slam that Rafa won.
When he won the Roland-Garros
for the first time.
I remember he had
a poster of Rafa in his bedroom.
He's been his hero since he was
seven or eight years old, I would say.
So, you know, when he started to play,
he kind of wanted to imitate Rafa.
Of course, Rafa plays best on clay.
And, in a sense, that's why
Casper's game is suited best for clay.
- How are you, man?
- Good to see you.
I joined the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2018.
In my case, it was the perfect place
to find good practice partners.
Learning from Rafa himself,
of course, and his coaches.
The Rafael Nadal Academy
caters to younger players,
trying to basically
teach them the successful method
that got Rafa Nadal to be where he is.
I'd practice with Rafa
sometimes if I was lucky
and he asked me to practice.
He'd even pop into our evening practices
to see how we were doing,
coming with advice and helping us.
Play again.
The goal this year for me is to reach
a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam.
I still haven't been able to do it.
I think that Roland-Garros
is the coolest slam.
I feel my chances are maybe a little bit
better than others because of the surface.
So it would mean
a lot to do it here for me.
Yeah, we are.
Shall I be the head of the table?
Great. Here. It's mine, yeah.
- Thank you.
- I'll try not to stain my shirt.
No mistakes allowed. You're wearing white.
I always say and I believe it,
I don't remember
a day when tennis wasn't in my life.
Not only something in my life,
the most important thing in my life.
My earliest memories,
my sister and I were in elementary school
and finished at three.
We'd spend the rest of the day
at the tennis club.
It was like a playground.
I broke a few rackets there.
- When was the last time you beat him?
- She never beat me.
No.
I recall we were, like,
almost the same level
until he went to the National Center.
So, let's say, uh
Wait. Wait, wait, wait.
No, no, no.
No, I'm saying the first time.
I'm not saying at 15.
See how defensive he is?
A bit of competition.
I always remember my dad saying,
"You need to eat tennis, to drink tennis,
to sleep tennis, to shit tennis."
It always made me laugh.
My dad was a tennis coach all his life.
Tennis was his biggest passion.
He was very, very demanding
with me and my sister.
The discipline, the respect
was the highest of priorities.
My dad always had this mentality
of trying to prepare myself
for what's to come
if I want to be a professional player.
I don't like to talk about sacrifice,
because for me, it's choices.
Uh, but Félix has to make a lot
of choices for his future career.
At six, I played my first tournament.
I came to the tournament in like a
full football jersey outfit,
to a tennis tournament.
Makes no sense.
He began to travel so young.
The first time he took a plane alone
he was nine years old.
And for me, at that time, I cried.
I can tell you that, for me it was,
I said he's too young.
It's come too fast.
My dear friend, it's your turn
To let yourself speak love ♪
Félix always traveling around the world,
does not get a lot of opportunities
to see friends and family.
That's why we wanted
to do something special.
This is the surprise.
Everyone's here.
To be honest, this is a life
that is not meant for everybody.
You need to be dedicated.
There is no way that you can
have time off.
This is superb.
I must prepare
for the tournament and I have lots to do.
So I always wonder
when I'll see my friends and family.
A lot of people tell me,
"You should be very proud of your son
and what he's doing."
For me, I didn't raise a tennis player.
I raised a child who I expect to become
a man, you know, with good values.
I'm proud of the man he is.
Auger-Aliassime is probably
a little nervous, don't you think?
Success at Roland-Garros hasn't really
been something he's tasted before.
I enter every tournament knowing
that potentially I could win.
But I was coming in never having won
a match at the French Open.
There's sometimes a little bit
of uncertainty and doubts that creep in.
There are moments during matches where,
I don't know about you,
but I know Rafael gets nervous.
Do you normally get nervous
before going out?
I'm alright.
During the first few days.
It's good stress.
There are moments where I look at Rafa
and I can see that he's crying.
I prefer to be on the court.
Félix Auger-Aliassime.
What I can bring to Félix
is my experience.
A person's main talent in life
is the capacity to learn.
With what I say, I think he can succeed.
Come on!
What I like about Toni's approach
is the belief, the confidence.
He's looking more aggressive.
He brings a lot into my team.
If we do things well,
then good things will come.
- He's done it.
- Set and match, Auger-Aliassime.
The Norwegian Casper Ruud
is showing his form on the clay.
And his side of the draw
has really opened up.
I mean, it's obvious that
one side looks stronger than the other.
This is the time.
This is the moment to step up.
Félix Auger-Aliassime
in on the tough side of the draw.
He could face
Toni Nadal's nephew, Rafa,
in the next round,
if both men win their matches today.
Game, set and match, Auger-Aliassime.
Three sets to love. 7-6, 7-6, 7-5.
Bravo, Félix.
How's Rafa getting on?
He's not won yet.
He's done it.
Rafael Nadal seals his spot
in the last 16.
He'll now go into battle
against Félix Auger-Aliassime,
who has uncle Toni in his team.
It's sure to make things awkward
for everyone involved.
Toni Nadal is now working with you
in the Grand Slam.
Will he be in the box?
Will he be able
to help you tactically or not at all?
We haven't spoken much about this yet.
Thank you.
Hi, Rafa.
Obviously your uncle is coaching Félix.
Will it be awkward for you when you play?
I knew that you were going to ask me
That you guys were going to ask
the question.
For me, it's very simple.
He's my uncle.
I don't think, uh, he will be able to
to want me to lose, without a doubt.
But he's a professional.
He's with another player.
I don't know what's going to happen,
if he's going to stay in the box or not.
But I don't care.
I know the feelings we have
between each other.
I know he wants the best for me
and now he's helping another player.
What is dangerous is that you can't use
the inside line too soon.
- You have to make him move
- Very good.
Good match. You played well.
But you lost your concentration once
at the start of the third set.
You could say I've got a lot more to come.
- Tomorrow against Rafael on court 14.
- Yeah.
I think that, for Félix,
you want to be able to look courtside.
You want to know that your coach
is literally in your box, in your corner.
You commit with a player.
It's a professional commitment.
The professional commitment says,
"I'm going to be with you 100%."
"100%."
"And I'm going to do everything
to help you be the best you can."
"That's my job and my role.
I take it more than seriously."
How will you support Félix
before this match?
I can't really say much,
I can't really tell Félix
how to beat Rafael.
To tell the truth,
I want my nephew to win.
He's my nephew
and he's more than a nephew to me.
I want my nephew to win.
Uncle Toni
gave interviews explicitly saying,
"Okay, Félix is my guy that pays me,
but I'm supporting Rafa today."
I can't believe
he said that. I can't believe it.
I would be surprised
if that relationship survives this.
You're doing great
with Félix.
That's his choice, to say that he would
prefer Rafa to win than his player.
That's his choice. Would I do that?
No, I'd never do that.
I have my principles
and my principles are my own.
I won't change them.
Hey, how are you doing?
Félix is in the other corner.
Are you allowed to be on this side?
Yeah, I mean
Come on.
He said he won't sit in either box.
Sure. But does he
withhold his coaching expertise?
Who's he cheering for?
If I'm Félix, I'll always have in my head,
"I wonder what I've left on the table
by not knowing
what Toni Nadal thinks
I should have done to beat his nephew."
It was clear to me,
once we started working together,
that if I had to play Rafa,
he wouldn't want me to win.
He wouldn't want me to beat his nephew.
We respect the fact that it's family.
He doesn't want to put himself
in conflict of interest. It's all good.
For us, it was understood.
To win at this level,
the biggest challenge
is always to try and beat
someone like Nadal here.
But you must believe in yourself.
You must believe you can beat the best.
It's such a good idea
to watch matches where he wins.
I'm not kidding.
Yeah, I guess so.
My father always challenged me.
He also has that competitive mindset.
So I think I inherited it from him.
I played professional for about ten years.
And I reached ranking of 39,
which I was happy with.
Game, Ruud.
That was the number to beat for me
when I grew up.
I'm surprised he beat my ranking that easy
because it's a tough sport.
Perfect.
- Thank you.
- Welcome.
Everything in tennis
is very based on routines
that we want to stick to.
When you're that far in a tournament,
all you need is 15 minutes
just to feel the ball a little bit.
When that routine is completely broken,
it can set us off.
It's not us,
it's the boss. He said to do it.
Why are you not speaking English to me?
Do you think I know French?
I spoke with the boss, he said no.
The rain's coming now, look.
Does the boss speak English?
He doesn't speak English.
Who's in charge?
We lost ten minutes that we could play.
This guy wants to have the covers
when it's not raining.
If it starts to rain, yes,
take the covers, just like in a match.
If it starts to rain,
you put the cover on.
I think the biggest advantage
of being also the dad and the coach is
you give 110% because, of course,
everyone wants their children to succeed.
First, he decides Casper can't play
without rain.
If we want to play in the drizzle,
we want to play in the drizzle.
We are here for you, but
You have the best clay courts
in the world. They can take some water.
We asked the chief
But the chief is not here,
so how can you know?
He's probably inside saying,
"It's going to rain. You have to stop."
You're here and you understand
this is not much rain.
We have to follow orders.
We are paid to do that.
Then you should have told them
to come here.
Who is more important? Him or the players?
We're the ones playing the tournament.
- Who's going to play the match? Him or me?
- I have to follow orders.
Yes, but what about our request?
It's unbelievable. We could have
played already for 15 minutes.
Today's big match
is billed as the "Uncle Toni Derby."
Thirteen-time Roland-Garros winner,
Rafael Nadal,
who, for so long,
was coached by his uncle,
is going head-to-head with Félix,
who now has Uncle Toni on his team.
All my life,
I had to help Rafael win a few matches.
And now unfortunately, I've helped
someone who can defeat my nephew.
It's a bit complicated.
I'm just young in my career,
trying to be the best player I can be.
Trying to be a champion.
Winning a Grand Slam
means everything to me.
It's something I've been chasing
for as early as I can remember.
So to play in center court,
in his house, on his court
Being the underdog. Proving people wrong.
That I could challenge him.
That I could maybe win.
It's a cool position to be in.
To get in the zone, you have to be in
this state that's very stable and focused.
Him jumping around and warming up,
running up and down next to you
It does turn up the intensity.
He is 21, a semi-finalist
at the US Open last year
and he is Canadian:
Félix Auger-Aliassime!
The demands on these players are enormous.
You need an incredible level of physical,
mental and emotional strength.
So I have a lot of admiration for my son.
From Spain, Rafael Nadal!
The 13-time Roland-Garros
champion, Rafael Nadal, steps out.
It's the Uncle Toni Derby.
But he has said he won't be
in either player's box.
Toni being there
I like him as a person. I respect him.
I was glad to see him there watching.
Félix Auger-Aliassime
is surely going to have
to take it to another level today
to take on Rafael Nadal.
Once the match started,
tactically-thinking like,
I can't let him run me around.
I can't let him dominate.
What a get
for Félix Auger-Aliassime.
That was Michael Jordan-esque.
He leads four-one.
When you're in the zone,
you're able to execute everything
the way you want it.
It's a great feeling.
Simply sensational
from the world number nine.
Set point.
Oh, yes.
Félix Auger-Aliassime takes the first set.
Things are going the way of the underdog.
But still a long, long way left to go.
What a point from Rafa.
I felt the momentum change.
Nadal takes the second set.
Feels as though Aliassime
has mentally sunk a little bit.
He started hitting much faster,
much stronger
He went up a gear.
Now dominating this encounter.
He takes the third set.
Toni Nadal.
I wonder how he's feeling right now.
I have to try, at least,
to impose myself.
Serve really well.
Take every opportunity I can
to dominate the rally
and be very aggressive.
Oh, magnificent.
The athleticism of Auger-Aliassime
it's proving a problem for Rafa.
It's three set points.
Pressure moment.
How about that? He got his mojo back.
It will be a one-set shootout
here on Chatrier.
For just the third time in Nadal's career
here at Roland-Garros.
Nadal has only been taken to five sets
twice before in these championships.
It became a difficult situation for me.
And I left the court.
I preferred not to watch.
This is going to be
tightly played out.
Listen to the noise.
After four hours,
it's about surviving.
Auger-Aliassime continues to hold his own.
And then he just hit like, boom.
Boom. And then, boom again.
I find myself break points down
and now having the pressure on me.
Sensational.
- He just went into another gear.
- Match point.
Rafael Nadal survives.
Wonderful sportsmanship
from Auger-Aliassime,
who can take so much
from being just
the third player in history
to take Nadal to five sets
here at Roland-Garros.
I think Félix found it difficult
when he lost.
But I know that he will find his way.
Thank you.
Toni, that was a special match for you.
How did you feel during this game?
Well, it's been difficult.
Félix has very big potential.
With a little bit more,
he can defeat my nephew.
Of course, it's emotionally loaded for me,
for everyone.
It's okay. It's not huge.
It also shows you're getting more
and more ready, if you see what I mean.
- That's true.
- Each time.
You'll be fighting again!
I really believe in life
you get what you deserve.
I'm proud of what
I was able to show to the world.
It gave me a lot of confidence
that I could challenge even the best.
So I have even more belief.
So I was disappointed at the time,
but I feel like
I'm nowhere near my peak yet.
Hopefully my peak is in front of me.
A present.
Form yourself, to yourself.
They're the best presents.
From me to me.
Yeah. That's great.
Casper Ruud has been
playing the best tennis of his career.
He not only reached his first
Grand Slam quarterfinal, he won it.
Match point.
Ruud is serving for a place in the final.
Casper will now play
his childhood hero, his idol,
on Philippe-Chatrier at Roland-Garros.
Playing Rafa in the final of a Grand Slam.
It's a difficult situation
because Rafa is his biggest idol.
I have been practicing with Rafa
for the last two or three years
at the academy, and he always
he always beats me in practice.
I will be the underdog.
I could probably tell you all the finals
and who he's beaten
because I watched them all on TV.
So, I will try to, you know,
tonight and tomorrow night,
dream about the great winners
and the unbelievable rallies.
That's what it's going to take
if I want to have any chance.
I'll need to play my best tennis ever.
But I still have to believe I can do it.
- Congratulations!
- Thank you.
Can I have a selfie?
I actually slept better than I feared.
You want to perform your best.
This is the biggest match ever
for me in my career.
It's tough to believe
that we can beat Rafa, Roger, and Novak.
They've been dominating like no one almost
has ever dominated in sports before.
And especially when all three of them
have been idols of you growing up.
To play Rafa in a five sets
clay-court match, on that court
It's the toughest challenge
we have in tennis, for sure.
Okay.
Now it's all business.
Get badass in your head. He fears you.
It was obviously a big match,
but I didn't want to think too much
about the consequences
and what was waiting ahead.
- How long, more or less?
- Thirty seconds.
Warm applause for Casper Ruud.
He's won a lot of fans here
with his passage through to the final.
His father, his sister,
his mum there, his girlfriend as well.
Thirteen-time winner
here at Roland-Garros.
From Spain, Rafael Nadal!
That roar when Rafa entered the arena
That starts to seep into your mindset.
Rafa! Rafa! Rafa!
I'm not going to play
a Grand Slam final
every Sunday the rest of my life.
So this might be the only one.
This might be the only chance I get.
Here we go.
The final of Roland-Garros 2022.
Bound to be a few nerves.
Hits that one wrong.
Nearly taking out James Keothavong
with the return.
But the umpire survives
as Nadal takes the opening set.
You'd like to think
that there's always a chance.
It's a rocket.
You know, he's older than me.
If there's ever a time
to actually beat him in a final,
maybe today's a big opportunity.
That's masterful.
Casper Ruud opens up a three-one lead
in the second set.
Nadal breaks back straight away.
Ruud still in front.
Three-two, second set.
Game, Nadal.
Third game in a row
for the Spaniard. He can do no wrong.
We always face tough situations,
but I need to get a hold on this game.
I mean, right now,
Ruud has lost this mental battle.
His family and team
are still trying to show encouragement.
It was not his best
tennis. He was not his best mentally.
Championship point for Rafael Nadal.
The greatest becomes even greater.
I didn't really think
that I was humiliated.
It's Rafa and it's on clay, so, I mean
I did my best. What else can I do?
It wasn't good enough. Wasn't even close.
I think that was a
fairy tale.
It was a final of a Grand Slam
and he was playing
the best player on the planet.
Ever.
Rafael Nadal!
Everyone thinks that probably
every athlete has this champion mentality.
But it's not always like that.
Being from Norway, a small tennis country
where we don't have any big history,
it's not always been easy to realize
that I can do it myself.
The hunger to win grows
even more when you lose the finals.
It is a 14th Roland-Garros title
for the greatest player
this great tournament
has ever seen and ever will see.
A 22nd Grand Slam title.
During the trophy ceremony,
Rafa came up
and put his hand around my shoulders.
Of course it put a big smile on my face.
I will always have that silver plate
back home in my place
and look at it
and be proud of what I achieved there.
I'll pray to God that I don't play
Rafa again in Roland-Garros
because it's an impossible task
to beat him.
Rafael Nadal!
Rafa! Rafa! Rafa!
There's this aura about it.
Everything is so perfect.
Proper and royal.
Violation, ball abuse.
Warning, Mr Kyrgios.
I know what I bring to the table.
If I win Wimbledon, it's like
a middle finger to everyone.
Are you kidding me?
It's bullying. That's what he does.
The first African woman in the Open era
to reach the Wimbledon final.
Life is good, you know.
The US Open is
the biggest tournament of the year.
You get goosebumps.
You're fucking ready to go.
For someone to give a shit,
you have to win your home slam.
Nightmares can become reality.
Dreams come true.
This tournament can change
your whole life.
It was fucking insane.
I'm playing
the greatest of all time.
Serena Williams.
Nobody wants me to win.
Hey, guys, we are fucked.
You're going to be
part of history no matter what.
Alcaraz feels like Rafa and Roger did.
This kid is something else, something new.
I don't feel any pressure.
I'm so excited.