Rafael Nadal cut an emotional figure after falling to a first round French Open defeat to Alexander Zverev. The tennis legend has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles in Paris and is dubbed as the 'King of Clay' amid such immense success. Nadal missed last year's French Open due to injury and hinted that 2024 could be his final year of action ahead of retirement.
And his hopes of winning the tournament one more time potentially came to an end on Monday in a 3-6 6-7 3-6 first round defeat to Zverev. Nadal appeared downbeat afterwards, with the crowd applauding him having set such a long-lasting legacy on the court. Zverev was first to speak after his win but kept it short: "Today is not my moment, it is Rafa's moment.
I'm not going to speak much." Nadal then said: "It's difficult for me to talk. I don't know if it's going to be the last time that I'm going to be here in front of all of you, honestly.
"I am not 100 per cent sure but if it's the last time, I enjoyed it. The crowd have been amazing during the whole week of preparation. "And today, the feelings that I have today are difficult to describe in words but for me it's so special to feel the love of the people the way that I felt in the place that I love the most.
" He added: "I have to congratulate Sascha [Zverev] for this great match and last week victory in Rome [Italian Open], I really wish you all the best for the rest of the tournament. "2022 I know had been a super tough moment for you so you deserve many congratulat.
