Rafael Nadal’s historic reign at the French Open appears to be over after a shocking first-round defeat to Alexander Zverev. The 14-time champion, nearing his 38th birthday, succumbed in straight sets (6-3, 7-6, 6-3) to the German player.
French Open loss sparks retirement talk
This marks only the fourth loss Nadal has suffered in his 116 matches at Roland Garros, a record-breaking tenure that began with his 2005 title win. The unexpected loss in the opening round raises significant questions about the future of the tennis legend.
Though Nadal acknowledged the emotional weight of the defeat, he stopped short of confirming his retirement. “I don’t know if this is the last time I will be here, but if it is, then I wanted to enjoy it”, he stated.
Injuries have plagued Nadal in recent years, limiting him to just four tournaments since the start of 2023. This drop in activity led to his unseeded status in this year’s French Open.
Despite the limitations, Nadal had previously declared his intention to keep playing. He emphasized this on the eve of the tournament, stating his focus was “100% keeping the door open” on his career, which boasts a remarkable 22 Grand Slam titles.
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The match mirrored their 2022 semi-final encounter, which Nadal won after Zverev succumbed to an ankle injury. This time, Zverev, currently ranked fourth in the world, capitalized on his opportunities, capitalizing on Nadal’s missed break points and ultimately securing the victory.
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