Rafael Nadal: Fourteen-time champion suffers first spherical defeat to Alexander Zverev at French Open | Tennis Information

Rafael Nadal misplaced within the first spherical of the French Open to Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in what could possibly be his final match at Roland Garros.

It’s the first time in his lengthy and illustrious profession that Nadal has been crushed in two consecutive matches on clay courts and the primary time he has misplaced a match sooner than the fourth spherical on the French Open.

The 14-time champion, often called the ‘King of Clay’, was roared on by household, mates and rivals on the scene of his best triumphs.

Having returned to the event he skipped in 2023 and refused to verify any farewells forward of his opener, Nadal confirmed flashes of prime kind once more on Courtroom Philippe Chatrier however the 37-year-old finally went down combating.

Again for the Olympics?

Nadal was persuaded afterwards by event director Amelie Mauresmo to say just a few phrases to the gang.

“I don’t know if it’s gonna be my last time here in front of you, not 100 per cent – but if it is I enjoyed it,” he mentioned.

“The emotions that I’ve are troublesome to explain, it is so particular to really feel the love of the folks within the place I like essentially the most.

“I have been going through a very tough two years in terms of injuries and I went through a process with the dream of being back at Roland Garros.

“The primary spherical was not the dream one however I used to be aggressive and had my possibilities. It is troublesome to say what is going on on sooner or later, a giant proportion that I will not be again however I can say 100 per cent I’m having fun with enjoying and having enjoyable.

“Maybe in two months I’ll say it’s enough, but it’s something I don’t want yet and I want to be back on this court for the Olympics.

“I by no means may think about after I was a child that I’d be right here at virtually 38 with all of the success I had right here. I actually hope to see you once more – however I do not know.”

Victory meant Zverev turned solely the third man to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, after Novak Djokovic and Robin Soderling, with the German banishing reminiscences of his retirement because of an ankle harm when the duo final met within the 2022 semi-finals.

Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion who gained the Musketeers’ Cup for the primary time in 2005 and final raised the trophy in 2022 earlier than a critical hip harm derailed his profession, has beforehand mentioned this 12 months could possibly be his ultimate one on the tour.

Stars in attendance

The seats behind the gamers’ packing containers had been filled with present stars together with Carlos Alcaraz – Nadal’s inheritor obvious – long-time rival Novak Djokovic and girls’s No 1 and three-time champion Iga Swiatek.

Additionally in attendance had been Nadal’s spouse Xisca, who hardly ever watches his matches, child son Rafael Jr and uncles Toni – his former coach – and Miguel Angel, the ex-Spain footballer.

Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri, no stranger to titles himself, was one other well-known face within the crowd.

A gradual begin price Nadal a break within the opening recreation which he by no means retrieved, whereas Zverev was too robust within the tie-break and held his nerve down the ultimate straight.

His celebrations had been low key as Nadal despatched a forehand extensive on match level, earlier than Chatrier rose, presumably for one final time, to salute their hero.

Nadal, who turns 38 on June 3, got here into the French Open unseeded for the primary time and noticed his profession document on the clay-court Grand Slam event fall to 112-4.

His three different losses got here towards Soderling in 2010 and twice towards Djokovic in 2015 and 2021.

Sinner eases previous Eubanks to achieve second spherical

Italian world No 2 Jannik Sinner appeared totally recovered from his harm issues as he noticed off American Christopher Eubanks 6-3 6-3 6-4.

Sinner, the Australian Open champion, withdrew from the Madrid Open and missed Rome with a hip harm, however was again on kind at Roland Garros as Eubanks exited on the first hurdle for the second successive 12 months.

“The hip is good, I’m glad that my team and myself, we were working very hard to be on court as soon as possible,” Sinner mentioned. “For sure, the general shape is not at 100 per cent yet, so we try to build every day.”

The Italian broke twice within the opening set to steer 4-1 earlier than Eubanks broke again however Sinner noticed out the set with one other break, and wanted only one break in every of the following two units to take his place within the second spherical.

“Honestly, I’m just happy to be back on court, I was injured, so I’m very happy to be back here,” Sinner mentioned.

“It’s a very special tournament for me, it was the first time in a quarter-final of a grand slam, so I have some great memories.”

Djokovic, who returned to the highest of the rankings in September, now must a minimum of attain the ultimate to have any likelihood of staying there.

The 37-year-old Serb, who mentioned he has “low expectations and high hopes” of defending his title in Paris, faces French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert in his first-round match on Tuesday.

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