Rafael Nadal admits he will be facing “one of the toughest opponents possible” when he plays Alexander Zverev in the French Open first round on Monday.
This year’s event was expected to be the 14-time champion’s
farewell to Roland Garros, but he has since insisted he could not confirm “100
percent” it would be his last appearance.
Nadal has only played four tournaments since January 2023
after suffering a hip injury and then a muscle tear.
That left him unseeded for the draw and vulnerable to a
difficult opening round at a tournament where he has only lost three of his 115
matches.
World number four Zverev arrives in Paris as one of the
favourites for the title after winning the Rome Open earlier this month.
“Of course on paper it is not the best draw,” Nadal said
ahead of the match on Court Philippe Chatrier.
“I play against one of the toughest opponents possible, and
at the same time, he came here winning the last event and it’s a Masters 1000.
“It’s not a small one. So what can I do? That’s the draw.
Just try to be ready for it.”
Nadal, who turns 38 in a week’s time, has shown flashes of
his best form in the clay-court swing, but was thrashed 6-1, 6-3 by Poland’s
Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of his last outing in Rome.
He boasts a 7-3 winning record over Zverev ahead of their
first meeting since the 2022 French Open semi-finals, when the German left the
court in a wheelchair near the end of the second set after injuring his ankle.
“I am not anxious. No, I am focused on trying to play well.
That’s it,” said Nadal.
“Maybe I go there and I repeat the disaster of Rome. It’s a
possibility, of course. I don’t want to hide that.
“But in my mind, is do something different and play much
better and give myself a chance to play competitive.”
‘Didn’t want’ to play Nadal
Zverev did not play again in 2022 after that ankle injury
but has climbed the rankings again in recent months.
The 27-year-old has long been touted as a future Grand Slam
champion but remains without one of tennis’ four biggest titles.
Clay is his strongest surface, though, and he has reached
the semi-finals in each of the last three years at Roland Garros.
The men’s draw looks far more open than usual, with doubts
surrounding Nadal’s fitness and Novak Djokovic having endured a turbulent start
to the year.
“I can guarantee you Novak didn’t want to play Rafa in the
first round and (Carlos) Alcaraz didn’t want to play, Jannik (Sinner) didn’t
want to play him,” admitted Zverev.
“I don’t want to play him in the first round, but it is how
it is. He has been out injured. He hasn’t played a lot of tennis. His ranking
is where it is. Of course it’s not ideal, but at the same time, you know, there
is nothing you can do.
“Everybody now is excited for a tough battle and tough first
round. I think he’s excited and I’m excited for it.”
French Open organisers were prepared to stage a tribute
ceremony to Nadal to honour his career but the Spaniard was reluctant to
endorse such a celebration.
“We were ready to press the button on it,” admitted
tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.
“But it’s Rafa who manages his timing, we follow what he
wants. We wouldn’t want to put him in an uncomfortable position.”
AFP