Tennis icon Rafael Nadal was unexpectedly eliminated from the 2024 French Open in the first round by Alexander Zverev.
Alexander Zverev was carried off the court with a severe ankle injury in their last French Open encounter. Fast forward two years and the outcome was starkly different. Rafael Nadal was defeated in straight sets—6-4, 7-6, 6-3—in what he suggested might be his final Roland Garros appearance. This match marked his career there with 112 wins and only four losses.
While still strong, Nadal’s performance showed signs of his age and past injuries. He appeared slower and less precise, with his typically accurate shots falling just wide of the mark. It wasn’t until the fifth game of the first set that Nadal began to play with his old vigour, hitting forcefully and using the full court to challenge Zverev.
However, Nadal’s efforts were not enough. At 37 and battling ongoing hip and abdominal issues, his storied experience at Roland Garros seemed more of a burden than a boon. Zverev, ten years his junior, relentlessly pressed this advantage.
Despite the challenges, Nadal had moments of brilliance, executing impossible shots and briefly recapturing his best form. These flashes came together in the second set, where Nadal, down 2-1, rallied to win five consecutive points and even the set at 2-2. His resurgence electrified the crowd at Philippe Chatrier, culminating in a break against Zverev—his first in the match.
Nadal continued to battle in the third set, thrilling the audience with his tenacity. But Zverev’s consistent pressure ultimately prevailed.
