In a surprising turn of events, Rafael Nadal suffered a defeat in the opening round of the French Open against Alexander Zverev with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3. This loss casts a shadow of uncertainty over Nadal's future in the tournament where he has triumphed a remarkable 14 times.
Although Nadal had previously hinted that the 2024 season might mark his retirement, he remained non-committal about his participation in future French Opens even after this setback, which marked only his fourth loss in 116 matches at the venue. Despite enduring 1 1/2 years of struggles with hip and abdominal injuries, Nadal graciously acknowledged the fervent support of the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd, acknowledging the "incredible amount of energy" they contributed throughout the 3 hours and 5 minutes of play.
Reflecting on the possibility that this could be his final appearance at Roland Garros, Nadal expressed gratitude for the experience, admitting, “It's difficult for me to talk. I don't know (if) it's going to be the last time I am here. I am not 100% sure,” said Nadal, whose 1 1/2-year-old son, Rafael Jr., sat on his mother's lap in the stands. “If it's the last time, I enjoyed it.”
This loss marks a historic moment in Nadal's illustrious career, being the first time he has been defeated in consecutive matches on clay courts and the earliest exit he's ever faced at the French Open, failing to progress beyond the opening rounds.
The match, played under the closed retractable roof, was accompanied by resounding chants of "Ra-fa!" from the majority of the approximately 15,000 spectators in attendance.
At 38 years old and grappling with ongoing hip and abdominal issues since January 2023, Nadal's infrequent appearances on the court have seen a decline in his ranking to No. 275, leaving him unseeded for the French Open for the first time. This circumstance led him to clash with the formidable No. 4-seeded Zverev, who boasts an impressive track record including being a runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open and a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
Nadal's previous defeats at Roland Garros were against Robin Soderling in 2010 and Novak Djokovic in 2015 and 2021.
In response to his victory over Nadal, Zverev humbly expressed gratitude, acknowledging Nadal's monumental impact on the sport and describing it as an honor to share the court with him. He remarked, “To be honest, I don't know what to say. First of all: Thank you, Rafa, from all of the tennis world,” Zverev said. “It's such a great honor. I've watched Rafa play all my childhood, and I was lucky enough to play Rafa when I became a professional. ... Today is not my moment. It’s Rafa’s moment.”
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