Zverev-Nadal in the first round of the French Open: a revenge nobody expected any more

© AFP

Elio Valotto

le 23/05/2024 à 15h08

2 min to read

Nadal Roland Garros Zverev

It's the sensation of the draw. While Rafael is likely to be playing in his last Roland Garros tournament, he will be facing Alexander Zverev, recent winner of the Rome Masters 1000, in the first round. The story is as sad as it is beautiful.

Sad because the chances of 'Rafa' reaching the second week in Paris are greatly reduced, and he could well fall in the first round of his last Parisian tournament. Beautiful because the Spaniard will have the opportunity to challenge an immense champion at least once again, in his own backyard at Porte d'Auteuil. It's also a good thing, because Zverev will have the chance to exact the revenge he was hoping for not so long ago.

Remember? Roland Garros 2022. Alexander Zverev was playing the best tennis of his life. He had just disposed of Alcaraz in the quarter-finals and was matching, if not dominating, a Rafael Nadal who had rarely been pushed around. Even though the Majorcan was leading, it was more psychological than tennis-related, and it seemed obvious that the German had the chance of a lifetime: to topple Rafa in Paris, to achieve the most difficult performance in modern tennis.

Unfortunately, we all know what happened next: cursed, the German ended up twisting his ankle, forced to retire after more than 3 hours of play and just under two sets played (7-6, 6-6 ab.).

In a few days' time, the world number 4 will have the opportunity to take his revenge on the king of ochre and, why not, complete his resurrection. On the other side of the court, Nadal will have the opportunity to achieve a new feat in his immense career: to once again rediscover his very best tennis, at a time when nobody really seems to believe in it any more.