BBC Radio 5 Live

Nadal on Ruud: "I have a huge respect for him in terms of friend. He has a great character, great family. As a player I respect a lot. He did a lot of great things the last couple of years."

Ruud on Nadal: "It's obviously going to be tough. We all know what a champion he is. I will try to enjoy, I will be an underdog and I will dream about great winners and unbelievable rallies and it will take my best tennis."

A nice 11-shot rally to get us going. A good sign of what's to come.

And here we go. Nadal to serve first.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Thunderous applause for Nadal as the 13-time champion enters his court.

Two lads in front of the press seats, with a Spanish flag draped around them, each hold aloft a silver birthday-style balloon of the number two.

Clearly they think the 22nd Grand Slam is coming for Nadal.

They - and the balloons - will be deflated if he doesn't.

Rafael Nadal's incredible success at the Australian Open this year was his 21st Grand Slam title - one more than both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have won.

And here are all of those 21 victories. Will we need to update the graphic later on?

Image source, Getty Images

We're live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra so press the play button at the top of this page to listen along.

After his win over Marin Cilic in the semi-finals, Casper Ruud said Rafael Nadal had always been his idol and inspiration.

From being in the stands watching him, to being on the other side of the net at the Roland Garros final. What a story for Casper Ruud, who has become the first male Norwegian player to reach the final of a Grand Slam.

Will another chapter be written today?

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Image source, Court Philippe Chatrier

Current roof status: open.

The nimbostratus clouds are hovering around with intent, trying to catch a glimpse of the red dirt.

Predict a watering from the sky at some stage this afternoon.

Bit drafty around Chatrier currently.

The players are out on court. How are Casper Ruud's nerves? If he makes a bad start then it's going to be a really tough challenge to get back.

Greg Rusedski
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

We haven't seen Nadal limp - he's obviously in pain and discomfort but he is finding a way to manage it.

This is a huge moment for Nadal - he's desperate to win.

Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent at Roland Garros

Ruud needs to avoid doing what Coco Gauff did in the final yesterday - getting broken in the first game.

Ruud is older, has won eight titles already, and having trained with Nadal, and built up a rapport with him, it will be competitive, but there is in no way the same intimidation factor.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Image source, BBC Sport

The scene in Paris today is not quite the same as the summer scorcher which yesterday’s women’s singles kicked off in.

The sun brollies were out before Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff took to the court.

However, the incoming rain would have forced the Chatrier roof to close if world number one Swiatek had not wrapped up a quick victory.

Today’s forecast appears to indicate the roof will be needed today.

Not the ideal conditions for Nadal, who doesn’t favour the slower ball in indoor and humid conditions.

Image source, BBC Sport

Naomi Cavaday
BBC Sport tennis commentator

That bottom half was a little bit open on the men's draw but Casper Ruud was in the mix.

Brace yourself for the final because it is going to be some big hitting suff.

He's such a professional and he's constantly improving and it is great to be in the final and it is his best chance on the clay.

Let us know your thoughts on today's action and use #bbctennis on Twitter to have your say.

Casper Ruud has trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy since 2018 - and although he and Nadal have often hit together in Mallorca, they have never met on the tour.

If the 23-year-old Casper Ruud wins, he will be the youngest men's Grand Slam champion since Juan Martin del Potro, who was 20 when he lifted the US Open trophy in 2009.

However, should Rafael Nadal win he would be, at 36 years and two days old, the oldest Roland Garros men's singles champion in history.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Image source, BBC Sport

Is this Chatrier or the Bernabeu? Wandering around the stadium feels like we're building up to a big Real Madrid match.

Spanish tongues can be heard everywhere, chattering away excitedly about the prospect of possibly seeing one of the nation's favourites sons creating more tennis history.

More red and yellow about than on Dali's oil palette.

A ubiquitous splash of Spanish flags, football shirts and hats, plus lots of Nadal-branded 'raging bull' hats and t-shirts.

Despite doing a few laps of Chatrier, no sign of any Norwegians...

Image source, BBC Sport

Hello and welcome along to BBC Sport's coverage of the French Open men's singles final between Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud.

We have live radio commentary of all the action in this very page with play starting at 14:00 BST.