Rafael Nadal has been eradicated from the 2024 French Open within the first spherical of the Grand Slam match. Nadal, who’s a 14-time French Open champion, misplaced to No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 on Monday.
In a match that lasted simply over three hours, Zverev was victorious in what may very well be Nadal’s ultimate look at Roland Garros. Following the match, Nadal left the clay courts and obtained a rousing ovation from the followers in attendance.
“As I mentioned, it is a massive, massive likelihood that it will be my final Roland Garros, but when I’ve to inform you it is 100% my final Roland Garros, sorry, however I can’t, as a result of I can’t predict what is going on on. I hope you perceive,” Nadal mentioned following Monday’s loss.
A number of the sport’s largest stars — together with Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek — had been trying on as Nadal exited the court docket for maybe the ultimate time.
Nadal got here into this yr’s French Open unseeded after battling by way of accidents lately. However, Zverev entered the Grand Slam match after just lately profitable the Italian Open, and he’s probably considered as one of many favorites to win the French Open.
Defeating Nadal is sort of a outstanding feat as Zverev turns into simply the third participant to beat Nadal within the French Open. Djokovic and Robin Soderling are the one different gamers who took down Nadal on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
If this was Nadal’s ultimate match on the French Open, he would end with a 112-4 profession report on the Grand Slam match. Nadal final gained the French Open in 2022, which is his final main title.
