Rafael Nadal Falls Short in Possible French Open Farewell Match
- BY Dhiren
- May 28, 2024
- Read in 5 Minutes
afael Nadal’s comeback to the French Open—and perhaps final farewell—came to an unexpected end when the 14-time champion fell to German fourth seed Alexander Zverev in straight sets.
Rafael Nadal has come to be associated with Roland Garros. However, the 37-year-old was unable to maintain the kind of play that has made him nearly untouchable on the Paris clay. This was especially evident in front of a partisan crowd yelling for a Spanish triumph.
The highly effective Zverev defeated the 22-time Grand Slam champion 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
When Nadal withdrew from the French Open the previous year, he hinted that an injury would end his career on tour in 2024.
He acknowledges there is a “good chance” this will be his last French Open, but he is not “100%” positive he won’t continue.
Nadal came on Court Philippe Chatrier – the scene of several of the finest moments of his career – to a thundering reception from a packed stadium.
While nowhere near his exciting best, the former world number one showcased glimpses of the brilliance that has made him so beloved.
But it was not enough to strictly test the 27-year-old Zverev, who played with an estimate of control throughout.
Zverev defeated Rafael Nadal for the fourth time in 116 singles encounters at Roland Garros. This achievement puts him in the company of Robin Soderling (2009) and Novak Djokovic (2015 and 2021).
During his on-court address, Rafael Nadal remarked, “I don’t know if this will be the last time I’m here in front of you, if it is, I have enjoyed it.”
“The entire week, the attendance has been incredible. Being able to experience people’s affection in this way is precious to me.”
As Nadal left the court to another standing ovation, the Paris crowd expressed their gratitude for the best clay-court Grand Slam champion. A few supporters were in tears.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2024
Nadal fails following a challenging draw
‘Gracias Rafa’ T-shirts and Spanish red and yellow flags made it easy to spot the legendary champion’s supporters. They had been gathering outside the arena as soon as the gates opened, in anticipation of his homecoming.
Even as late as last month, Nadal was unsure of his readiness to participate in the city he has ruled. This uncertainty followed a crushing loss to Hubert Hurkacz in Rome.
Nadal declared at a confident pre-tournament press conference on Saturday that he felt his practice session demonstrated his ability to ‘play against anyone.’ Additionally, he stated that he had found the drive to return swiftly.
Last week, when the draw was announced, Rafael Nadal, ranked 275th, found himself vulnerable to facing a top player because he had played so little due to injury over the previous eighteen months. This was his first time playing without a seed at Roland Garros.
Being a potent clay-court player, Zverev is regarded as one of the best players to never have won a major championship. Over the course of the next two weeks, he has a solid opportunity of becoming the latest Grand Slam winner.
He advanced to the 2022 French Open semifinals before retiring against Rafael Nadal due to a severe ankle injury sustained in a horrific fall. Earlier this month, he won the Rome title, preparing for Roland Garros.
Zverev adamantly asserts that a court case over accusations of domestic abuse will not divert his focus on becoming a major champion. The case is scheduled to begin in Berlin later this week. 3.5
His performance versus Nadal served as further evidence of his status as one of the favorites.
How the game played out
Zverev broke in the opening game of the match thanks in large part to a double fault and a shoddy drop shot into the net by the Spaniard. This was an unsettling start for Rafael Nadal.
The pro-Nadal crowd applauded Zverev for every error he made in the first games. The German then controlled commanding service games and broke for the set after saving two break opportunities.
That rather deflated the mood that had been high before.
Nadal gave fans hope once more by taking a 4-2 lead in the second set while playing with greater aggression and passion.
But Zverev eroded belief just as fast as it grew.
The Olympic champion maintained composure and raised his game in the tenth game to tie the score. This was achieved with some accurate ball striking that Nadal was unable to handle.
The presence of Djokovic, Nadal’s fiercest opponent, in the stands alongside Iga Swiatek, the reigning women’s champion, and Carlos Alcaraz, the Wimbledon men’s champion, demonstrated the occasion’s gravity.
It underscored the significance of the event. Their attendance underscored the significance of the event. Their attendance highlighted the significance of the event.
Similar to the second set, they saw Nadal force a breakpoint in the third set. However, he gave in under increased strain as Zverev surged back to lead 4-3.
As he has throughout his remarkable career, Rafael Nadal never gave up and generated two break points in the eighth game. However, Zverev persisted in believing in his shots and produced a powerful finish.
“The first match wasn’t the perfect one, but I was aggressive, I had my chances,” Nadal stated.
“But it was not sufficient against an outstanding player.”
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