Zverev Gears Up For 'Peak Nadal' Clash In Roland Garros Opener
Alexander Zverev is gearing up to face Rafael Nadal in the first round of the French Open, anticipating a formidable challenge from the 14-time winner. The fourth seed will meet Nadal in a highly anticipated match at Roland Garros, where they last clashed in the 2022 semi-finals. That encounter was cut short when Zverev suffered a severe ankle ligament injury, forcing him to retire.
The German player acknowledges that the injury will be on his mind as he steps onto Court Philippe Chatrier two years later. Zverev, a three-time semi-finalist, recently secured his first ATP Masters title in three years at the Italian Open. Nadal, on the other hand, has been battling injuries since their last meeting but has been preparing for his Roland Garros swansong with appearances in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome.
Despite these challenges, Zverev is ready to face an inspired Nadal, who holds an impressive 112-3 record at this event. "In my mind, I'm going to play peak Rafa Nadal," said the 27-year-old. "That's what I expect him to be. I expect him to be at his absolute best. I expect him to play the best tennis he's played in a long time on this court."
Zverev expressed his desire to face Nadal again under better circumstances. "I wanted to play Rafa again in my career, in his career, because I didn't want my last memory of me playing against Rafa to be me leaving the court in a wheelchair," he said. "Ideally, I would have liked to play him in the later stage of the tournament, but it is how it is now."
This year, Nadal is unseeded while Zverev is seeded, making it a challenging draw for both players. "It's a tough draw, but it's a tough draw for both of us," Zverev remarked. "We'll see how it goes on Monday."
Sign in with Google