Spanish legend Rafael Nadal suffered a never-seen-before first-round exit at the French Open 2024 after going down to Germany's Alexander Zverev on Monday, May 27. Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros champion, went down in straight sets to the fourth-seeded Zverev at Philippe-Chatrier 3-6, 6-7 (5-7), 3-6. This was his first-ever first-round exit in the French Open as he has never crashed out of the tournament before the third round.
This might be Nadal's final game at the Grand Slam he owns like no one else as he has been hit with injuries in recent times and is about to be 38 years old. Nadal himself confirmed before the start of the tournament that there is a "big, big chance" that this will be his final French Open but kept a door ajar for another appearance next year saying, "I cannot predict what's going on". Zverev and Nadal met each other last time at this very Grand Slam in the semifinal two years ago when the German was forced to retire hurt after injuring his ankle.
But he was highly motivated for this one. He announced himself when he broke Nadal's serve in the first game of the opening set, sending shockwaves at the Philippe-Chatrier. He hardly broke down a sweat, winning all his serves and going a set up 6-3.
Nadal looked for a comeback in the second one, going 2-1 up while breaking Zverev. But the German came back to make it 2-2. The Spaniard had a great chance to win the set and level the match.
He broke Zverev to lead 3-2 and then had a 5-3 lead but squandered it a.
