Rafael Nadal Crashes Out of 2024 French Open After First Round Defeat to Alexander Zverev

An end of an era dawns upon us perhaps, as the legendary Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the French Open in the first round after falling in three straight sets to World No. 4 Alexander Zverev on Monday.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, and the King of Clay who has clinched 14 French Open titles, gave Zverev a hearty fight but ultimately fell in three sets of 6-3,7-6,6-3 in favor of the German in a 3-hour 5-minute-long battle.

It was the first time he had been defeated in Paris in the opening round and will again lead to questions over his long-term future in the sport.

The veteran Nadal started off on the back foot as Zverev took the Spaniard down with ease in the first two games to earn a 2-0 lead in the first set.

There seemed to be no sign of resistance from the 37-year-old Nadal, whose backhand was constantly being targeted by the World No.4 German, as Zverev continued to pile on the misery in the opening games.

But, a spirited Nadal found his breakthrough with the third game and snatched one back from the German to throw the gauntlet out for him.

What ensued was a heated revival from the legendary Spaniard, who went on to push Zverev to a competitive first set, before the German clinched it 6-3 to take the early lead.

Nadal would not give in too easily though, as the players went back and forth in the second set.

After the first couple of games, where Zverev took a 2-1 lead, Nadal fought back with vengeance to blitz the German in three straight games to take the lead at 4-2.

But, Zverev would not fold quickly, and the German wrung out the Spaniard in a heated comeback which ultimately had both players tied at 6-6.

A blazing tiebreaker that went all the way finally decided the set winner, as Zverev triumphed over Nadal 7-5 to seal the set 7-6 as he remained one more set away from a victory.

The young German though was off to a rough start as Nadal clinched the first two games of the third set, but set off on a spirited fight from behind yet again, to end the set strong 6-3, and to clinch the win over Nadal.

After his defeat, an emotional Nadal took to the mic to thank the fans in attendance and shared his thoughts on whether this may be the last time he would partake in the esteemed tournament.

“I don’t know if this is the last time I will be here, I am not 100% sure but if it is then I wanted to enjoy it,” said Nadal.

“The feelings today are difficult to describe in words.”

Plagued by injuries, which had limited him to just four events since January last year, former world number one Nadal is now 275 in the rankings and was unseeded in Paris.

However, he insisted on the eve of the tournament that he was “100% keeping the door open” on his future in a sport which has brought him 22 Grand Slam titles.

(with agency inputs)