Zverev defeats Rafael Nadal in Spaniard’s potential final Roland-Garros appearance
The German beat Nadal 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in what is likely to be the Spaniard’s final appearance at Roland-Garros
Rafael Nadal bows out of Roland-Garros 2024 in possibly his final appearance Michael Baucher / Panoramic
Alexander Zverev became just the third man in history to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros, overcoming a courageous performance from the Spaniard to win 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 inside an emotional Court Philippe-Chatrier.
It is only Nadal’s fourth defeat in 116 matches at this tournament, and Zverev’s fourth win against the 22-time Grand Slam champion in 11 attempts.
In what was widely expected to be Nadal’s final appearance at a tournament he has won an astonishing 14 times, the Spaniard could hardly have been handed a more difficult opening-round match.
Zverev is arguably the most in-form player on the ATP right now, and he was coming into this year’s tournament off the back of an excellent title run at the Italian Open. It was an especially tricky match-up as Zverev’s supreme height means he is one of the few players for whom Nadal’s greatest weapon on clay courts – his dizzyingly high topspin bounce – is blunted, as the Spaniard’s forehand rears up nicely into the German’s backhand hitting zone.
Add to this the fact that rain and a closed roof on Philippe-Chatrier led to heavier, lower-bouncing conditions, and Nadal’s considerable task became that much harder before a ball was even hit.
Nevertheless, there were frequent flashes of vintage Nadal at his imperious clay-court best throughout the contest, ripping forehand winners and looping heavy top-spin groundstrokes in what has been his undisputed home court for the past two decades.
Nadal was simply brilliant in the forecourt, converting 15 out of 16 net points as he frequently ventured forward to shorten rallies, making use of his excellent technique to stun the ball and leave Zverev stranded behind the baseline.
Ultimately, it was not enough against a Zverev performance worthy of a Grand Slam champion.
rematch of 2022 proves a high-quality affair
The last time these two met was in that fateful encounter in the semi-finals two years ago, when Zverev suffered a horrendous ankle injury. There were echoes of that match across the first two sets, as a brutal and drawn-out contest unfolded in front of an understandably partisan Parisian crowd.
Two breaks at the very start and very end of the opening stanza book-ended a clinical first set for Zverev.
The first was the result of a nervous, unsettled start from the Spaniard that led to a break to love for the German.
The second came in the ninth game – the longest of the set – as Nadal fended off two set points before succumbing to the third as Zverev forced his way to a one-set lead, saving himself the need to serve it out.
A concerned hush came over the Parisian crowd during the start of the second set, particularly when Nadal found himself 15-40 down on his serve in the fourth game. But they were roused into a vocal outpouring of celebration as the great Spaniard saved both break points before pouncing on a loose service game from his opponent, sealing the break with a gorgeous cross-court drop shot.
The match’s entire complexion had transformed in the blink of an eye as the 14-time champion found his form, suddenly looking much more comfortable on court.
But a contest of this magnitude was bound to have many ebbs and flows, and just as Nadal had some momentum, things shifted again. Serving for the second set at 5-4, the Spaniard was broken, Zverev pouncing on understandable signs of tension from his opponent.
The set required a tiebreak to separate the pair, and it was the German that took it, sealing the second stanza on his second set point to move into a seemingly unassailable lead.
Fears of a rapid sprint to the finish for Zverev emerged in the opening game of the third set, as Nadal faced two breaks points against his serve. But those concerns were quickly quashed as – like he did in the second set – the Spaniard saved both before breaking in the very next game.
He could not consolidate the break, though, as the German hit straight back to draw level. Nadal then saved four break points in an epic fifth game to keep his slim hopes intact.
The break did eventually come for Zverev in the seventh game however, sending a potent backhand winner down the line and out of Nadal’s reach to clinch the crucial break of serve.
Nadal could not convert either of two break points in the eighth game, before Zverev broke for a sixth and final time in the ninth game to knock the King of Clay out of Roland-Garros at the earliest juncture, and possibly on the great Spaniard’s last appearance at the clay-court showpiece.
nadal still cannot confirm this to be his final roland-garros appearance
Despite the strong likelihood that Nadal will not return, he once again could not confirm that this was definitely the case during an emotional on-court interview.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be the last time here in front of all of you. I’m not sure,” he said, as family, friends and a litany of fellow tennis professionals watched on from the stands.
“But if it’s the last time, I enjoyed it. The crowd was amazing during the whole week of preparation. Today the feelings I have are difficult to describe in words. For me it so special to feel the love of the people in the place I love the most.
“I enjoy playing a lot and traveling with the family. The body is feeling better than two months ago. Maybe in two months I say ‘it’s enough’. But it’s something I don’t feel yet.
“I hope to be back on this court for the Olympics. That motivates me. That’s going to be another chance.”
Zverev, for his part, showed great humility in victory, only speaking briefly to pay tribute to Nadal before handing over the microphone and centre stage to the Spaniard.
“To be honest, I don’t know what to say,” the German said.
“Thank you Rafa, from all of the tennis world. It’s such a great honour. I’ve watched Rafa play all my childhood. I was lucky enough to play him as a pro. Lucky enough to play him twice on this beautiful court.
“I don’t know what to say. Today isn’t my moment. It’s Rafa’s. I’m not going to speak much. Thank you.”
an historic chapter in tennis draws to a close, as zverev’s personal and sporting battles contnue
It is an odd moment in both Nadal’s career and for tennis more widely.
No one quite knows whether or not one of the greatest chapters in the sport’s history has come to a definitive close. Because of this, the response to today’s defeat was not quite the outpouring of gratitude and sadness that it otherwise might have been.
What is certain, however, is that the King of Clay’s era as the undisputed champion of Roland-Garros is coming to its end.
He leaves the tournament at the earliest point in his illustrious career, as the hugely impressive Zverev marches on.
After such a performance, the German is surely now the favourite to land the first Grand Slam title of his career. He will try do so against the backdrop of a deeply unsavoury court trial, with the accusation of domestic violence still looming large over his career and his character.
How the defeats and victories play out for Zverev across both the legal court and the tennis court over the next fortnight will be monumental to both his personal and professional lives.
