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Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after his loss to Alexander Zverev of Germany (not pictured) during their first-round match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, France, May 27, 2024. /CFP
Fourteen-time champion Rafael Nadal slumped to a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev in the first round of the French Open on Monday.
Zverev, the 27-year-old German, defeated Nadal 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3, likely signaling the end of the 37-year-old Spaniard's Grand Slam adventures in Paris.
"To be honest I don't know what to say. First of all, thank you Rafa from all of the tennis world. It's such a great honor," Zverev said in his on-court interview. "I've watched Rafa play all my childhood and I was lucky enough to play Rafa when I became a professional. I was lucky enough to play him two times on this beautiful court. I don't know what to say. Today is not my moment, it's Rafa's moment, so thank you."
Zverev became just the third player to defeat Nadal at Roland Garros, joining Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Robin Soderling of Sweden.
"Of course disappointed for losing, but in terms of body feelings, happy that I finish healthy, you know, and I had a tough battle out there. And I was ready for a little bit more," noted Nadal.
"So that's it. Accept the moment. If it's the last time that I played here, I am in peace with myself (smiling). I tried everything to be ready for this tournament for almost 20 years. And today and the last two years I have been working and going through probably the toughest process in my tennis career with the dream to come back here, no? At least I did."
(With input from agencies)