Mateo Villalba/Getty Images
If this is indeed Rafael Nadal’s last French Open, he wasn’t going down without a fight.
The 14-time champion lost 3-6, 6-7(5), 3-6 to fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev on Monday.
Tennis Channel @TennisChannel
Through to the second round ⏩
Alexander Zverev defeats Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 as the crowd gets on their feet for the 14-time champion. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/WU287EUUOo
The 37-year-old has played down the idea of bidding adieu to Roland-Garros this summer, but that didn’t fully remove the sense a historic chapter for men’s tennis is drawing to a close.
Tournament organizers didn’t do Nadal any favors, making him an unseeded player and pairing him with Zverev straight out of the gate.
Things didn’t look good for the southpaw early on. He dropped serve in the opening game of the match and had nine unforced errors to just five winners in the first set.
Nadal bounced back in the second and took a 5-3 lead thanks to a service break in the fifth game. Fans were seeing shades of his old self and gaining some hope an instant classic was in store.
Roland-Garros @rolandgarros
Pumped 🆙#RolandGarros @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/7Q78ZlySnW
That belief steadily waned as Zverev won the next four games and eventually took the set in the tiebreaker.
With Nadal down two sets to none, the question became less about whether he could pull off the upset and instead about if his last French Open ever would end in a first-round, straight-set loss.
For most fans, the occasion was an opportunity to enjoy a legendary star one more time.
Dan Wolken @DanWolken
Nadal looks like he’s almost out of gas, has nothing at all on his serve and he’s still coming up with some brilliant stuff. Fighting against the dying of the light
The Tennis Letter @TheTennisLetter
Listen to the sound of the crowd as Rafa Nadal walked on court at Roland Garros for the first time in 722 days.
One of the greatest hero’s in all of sports who did the impossible over and over again at this event.
All the feels. 🥹
pic.twitter.com/ppUrTx32TR
Tennis TV @TennisTV
Nadal & Roland-Garros. Forever iconic ❤️💛
Whether this was the 14-time champion’s final @rolandgarros or not – thank you for an incredible Parisian adventure, Rafa! pic.twitter.com/nAtjMbTaP5
Ben Stiller @BenStiller
Still rooting for Rafa Nadal always
Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach
It is so amazing to get these glimpses of vintage Nadal.
Bryan Armen Graham @BryanAGraham
Rafael Nadal’s lifetime record at the French Open: WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLWWWWWWWL
Olly 🎾🇬🇧 @Olly_Tennis_
The way I got to watch Federer’s last ever Wimbledon match (last ever singles match actually), and Nadal’s last ever Roland Garros match (probably) live.
Can’t even put it into words…so grateful 🥹
Cikgu Compress @AmirMuslims89
1st Federer 2022, now Nadal. Tennis wont be same again. New generation cannot replicate what both have done and create the greatest rivarly in sport
Mayank @ImMayankB
I hope that wasn’t the last time we see you at the Roland-Garros but if it was then it has been an immense pleasure, Rafael Nadal Parera ❤️
Brandon Koretz @BrandonKoretz
For the first time in his professional career, Rafael Nadal has lost two consecutive matches on clay.
It took 528 matches over the course of 22 years.
Anthony Dabbundo @AnthonyDabbundo
112-4 with 14 titles at Roland Garros is a feat that will never be matched by a single player at any tennis tournament ever again, vamos Rafael Nadal
Mike McIntyre @McIntyreTennis
So emotional listening to Rafa Nadal speak for potentially/likely the last time in front of a crowd at Roland Garros.
This man has given everything he has to the sport and especially to his many, many fans in Paris. Much respect for him today.
It’s anybody’s guess as to what the future holds for Nadal, either for the rest of this season or the 2025 Grand Slam calendar. He has logged a relatively light schedule so far in 2024, so his availability for Wimbledon and the U.S. Open isn’t assured.
Great athletes rarely get to exit on their own terms, and that’s especially true in such an unforgiving sport such as tennis. The last few years of Roger Federer’s career were pretty unremarkable before he walked away altogether.
Losing to Zverev wasn’t the way you would’ve scripted Nadal’s farewell, but at least the general certainty over his likely departure allowed everyone to appreciate his legacy at Roland-Garros.
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