Paris: In what might mark his final appearance at the French Open, Rafael Nadal bid adieu amidst an outpouring of affection and support, succumbing to a first-round defeat by Alexander Zverev. With eyes set on a return to Roland Garros for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nadal left the court, acknowledging the uncertainty of his future in the tournament.
“I hope to see you again, but I don’t know,” Nadal addressed the jubilant crowd after his straight-sets loss on Monday. “There’s a big percentage I will not be back here but I am not 100% sure. I hope to be back on this court for the Olympics, that motivates me.”
This marked only the third instance since his debut at Roland Garros in 2005 that Nadal, whose body bears the toll of 23 years in professional tennis, did not celebrate his June 3 birthday in Paris. Despite his crushed foot following his record-improving 14th title two years ago, fans rallied around him, eager to witness his magic on the clay courts of Roland Garros once more.
The French, known for their fashionably late arrivals at Court Philippe Chatrier, forewent their customary leisurely lunches to pack the arena in anticipation of Nadal’s appearance. With racket in hand and determination in his eyes, the Spanish maestro took to the court amid thunderous applause.
Maintaining his meticulous pre-match routine, Nadal meticulously avoided the lines, crossed them with his right foot, and sprinted to the baseline during warm-up. As rain pattered down on Paris, organizers closed the roof, heightening the intimacy of the occasion.
Yet, on the court he knows better than anyone else, Nadal initially struggled to find his rhythm, netting routine shots and serving double faults, gifting Zverev an early advantage. Despite flashes of brilliance, including spinning forehand winners, Nadal found himself trailing as Zverev capitalized on his momentum.
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The crowd, fervently supportive, rallied behind Nadal with chants of “Rafa! Rafa!” as he fought valiantly against his German opponent. Despite a late resurgence, marked by stunning winners and defiant fist pumps, Nadal ultimately fell short, conceding defeat to Zverev.
The morning of Nadal’s clash with Zverev buzzed with anticipation, as other tennis stars, including world number ones Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic, launched their campaigns. Swiatek, eyeing a fourth title, delivered a commanding victory over French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean, extending her impressive winning streak at Roland Garros.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff showcased her prowess with a resounding victory over Julia Avdeeva, notching her 50th Grand Slam match win. The young American, hungry for her first French Open title after a runner-up finish in 2022, displayed maturity beyond her years on the Parisian clay.
In the men’s draw, Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and former runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas cruised to straight-set victories, setting the stage for an exhilarating tournament ahead.
