Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking French Open career came to a likely end on Monday when the 14-time champion slumped to a demoralizing first-round defeat against Alexander Zverev. Nadal, who turns 38 on June 3, lost 6-3 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 to world number four Zverev, suffering just his fourth defeat in 116 matches at Roland Garros since winning the title in 2005. debut. It was the first time he had been defeated in Paris in the opening round and will again raise questions about his long-term future in the sport.
“I don’t know if this will be the last time I’ll be here, I’m not 100% sure, but if it is, then I want to enjoy it,” said Nadal. “The feelings today are difficult to describe in words.”
Plagued by injuries, which have limited him to just four events since January last year, former world number one Nadal is now ranked 275th and was unseeded in Paris.
However, he insisted on the eve of the tournament that he was “100% keeping the door open” for his future in a sport that has won him 22 Grand Slam titles.
In a repeat of the 2022 semi-final, which Nadal won when Zverev withdrew due to ankle ligament damage, the Spaniard had his chances.
He had a break of serve in the second and third sets, only to be pinned on both occasions by his in-form 27-year-old opponent.
Shouts of “Rafa, Rafa” echoed under the roof of the Court Philippe Chatrier, which was tightly closed against the torrential rain that swept the place and wreaked havoc on the program.
They fell silent when Nadal was broken for love in his opening service game and he rued his inability to convert two break points in the fourth game.
Nadal saved two set points in the ninth game, but gave up the first goal in the 50th minute when he buried a loose forehand into the net.
It was only the fourth opening set he had lost at Roland Garros.
Nadal broke for the first time in the match to lead 3-2 in the second set, but was unable to maintain his advantage and handed the break back to three-time semi-finalist Zverev as he served for the set.
A tense shoot-out followed which the German claimed, driven by stretching to 5/3 after a grueling 19-stroke rally.
Nadal dug deep and with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek watching from the packed stands, he broke and held for 2-0 in the third set.
However, Zverev came back to level at 2-2 before the beleaguered Nadal had to save four break points in a 13-minute fifth game to stay in contention.
The effort was too much and a composed Zverev was soon leading 4-3 and the match ended when Nadal fired a forehand wide and long.
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