Déjà vu in Paris. When Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev were paired in the first round of Roland Garros, a mixture of murmurs, laughter and expressions of surprise was heard in the audience present in the halls of the Orangerie.
In one of the most beautiful corners of the Grand Slam’s facilities, as the draw decied, probably Nadal’s last debut in his favorite tournament will be against the fourth best player in the world, who comes with good rhythm after being champion at the Rome Masters 1000.
The two played one of the most intense matches of 2022, lasting more than three hours, and could not even complete two sets. In the semifinals of the Spaniard’s last title in Paris, Zverev suffered a brutal injury: he broke his ankle and cut ligaments when he went to hit a forehand on the run, just as Nadal forced a second tiebreak after winning the first.
Zverev left the court on crutches. For the German, it is the opportunity to close a circle: he had a hard recovery, returned to his best level (he defended the semifinals in 2023), won the Rome Masters 1000 in 2024 and at Roland Garros he will have the chance to eliminate the 14-time champion of the tournament in his possible farewell.
Other stories will happen off the court that may mark the passage through Paris of the world number four: that same week, on May 31, starts his trial in a court in Germany for allegations of domestic violence.
The Spaniard announced that this French Open will probably be the last of his career.
It was quite a movie script that was put together in the The Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil.
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"Rafael Nadal News"
The Spaniard had told tournament organisers last week that he did not want a farewell ceremony as he would not “close the door” on a return to the Paris showpiece….Read Full blogs…https://www.sabcsport.com/news/french-open-rafael-nadal-knocked-out-in-first-round-in-potential-final-appearance-at-roland-garros