Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking French Open career came to its likely end on Monday when the 14-time champion slumped to a demoralising defeat against Alexander Zverev before he revealed his journey to the Paris Olympics in July will not take a detour to Wimbledon. Nadal, who turns 38 on June 3, went down 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the first round to world number four Zverev, suffering only his fourth loss in 116 matches at Roland Garros since his 2005 title-winning debut. It was the first time he had been defeated in Paris in the opening round and will again lead to questions over his long-term future in the sport.
“I don’t know if it’s the last time I’ll be here in front of all of you,” he said. “If it is, then you have been amazing. The feelings I have today are difficult to describe in words.
It is the place I love the most.” He added: “It’s hard to say about the future. I am travelling with my family and I am having fun.
The body is feeling better than it did two months ago. Maybe in two months I say it’s enough. That is something I don’t feel yet.
” Nadal may not return for the 2025 French Open but he still plans to play the Olympics at Roland Garros in July. Nadal, an Olympic singles gold medallist in Beijing in 2008 and doubles champion at the Rio Games, later told reporters: “That’s my main goal now. I need to prepare myself the proper way to try to arrive healthy and well-prepared.
” He won’t make the rankings cut for the Olympics, but as .
