Rafael Nadal faces Zverev in French Open first round, Mischa Zverev predicts tough match, potentially Nadal’s last at Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal is set to compete in the French Open, a tournament he has won a record 14 times, for the final time. His return to Roland Garros comes with a daunting challenge as he faces world No. 4 Alexander Zverev in the opening round. Zverev, fresh off his victory at the Italian Open in Rome, enters the year’s second Grand Slam as one of the favorites.
Nadal, who won his last French Open title in 2022, has struggled with hip problems and has only played in four tournaments over the past year and a half. His recent performance saw him fall to Hubert Hurkacz in the second round in Rome.
Reacting to the draw, Zverev’s brother and former player Mischa Zverev shared his thoughts with Eurosport. “When you see the 2024 French Open draw, you have to sit down to digest it,” he said. “It’s Zverev against Nadal in the first round. How did that go a few years ago? A three-hour match that ended without a match point because Sascha got injured and couldn’t finish. He was then out of action for six or seven months.”
“Rafael Nadal won his last French Open back then. Now they’re playing each other again in the first round, but a lot is different: Sascha is seeded and Rafa isn’t even in the top 100, which hasn’t been the case for more than 20 years. Everyone is asking me: Mischa, how will it turn out? What do you think?”
Mischa expressed confidence in his brother’s chances: “I’ve always said that Sascha could and should have won it back then. And he will win it this time too, because Rafa has become a bit slower and his fitness is no longer the same. The shots may still be the same, but the big question is whether he can play them over five sets. I think the winner will be Zverev in the end and I hope it will be over in three sets.”
He also acknowledged the emotional weight of the match: “It will be a very tough match – perhaps not in terms of play, but emotionally, because it could also be Rafael Nadal’s very last match at the French Open. The crowd won’t really be able to decide whether they want to see a great match or simply Rafa on the Philippe-Chatrier once again.”
Nadal was scheduled to practice with Zverev in Paris, but the session was cancelled after the draw placed them together in the first round. The highly anticipated match will be a significant event at Roland Garros, potentially marking the end of an era for Nadal on the Parisian clay.
Alexander Zverev in 2024
Currently ranked no.4, Zverev played his last match on the 19th of May when he defeated world no.16 Nicolas Jarry 6-4 7-5 in the final in Rome to win his 23rd career title.
Until now, during this year the German owns a 28-9 win-loss record. The German clinched 2 titles in 2024 in Australia and Rome.
Alexander Zverev will come up against the world no.276 Rafael Nadal in the 1st round. Their actual record is 7-3 for Nadal.
Alexander has won 2 titles in 2024 in Australia and Rome.
Alexander won 23 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts and 7 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Zverev has scheduled to play next at the French Open (French Open). He will begin to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 26th of May.
