In a shocking turn of events, Germany’s Alexander Zverev will face off against the legendary Rafael Nadal in the opening round of the French Open 2024. Nadal, a 14-time champion at Roland Garros, is making his final appearance at the Grand Slam tournament but is unseeded due to his low ranking.
Zverev, a semifinalist for the past three years, was taken by surprise when his brother broke the news to him. “I actually thought he was joking in the beginning. But then, yeah, it is what it is,” Zverev said. Despite the tough draw, Zverev expressed his desire to face Nadal again after their last meeting in 2022 ended prematurely due to injury.
While some have argued that Nadal should have been seeded given his dominance on clay, Zverev acknowledged that the organizers had to follow the ATP rankings. He emphasized that no player would have wanted to face Nadal in the first round, including top contenders like Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.
Speaking of Medvedev, the world number five expressed relief at not having to play Nadal in the opening round. “First round would be tough against someone who won 14 titles here,” Medvedev said. Despite practicing with Nadal and noting his improved form, Medvedev admitted he was glad to be a spectator for the highly anticipated match between Zverev and Nadal.
As the tennis world braces for this epic showdown, Zverev remains focused on facing a peak Nadal on the court. With both players eager for the challenge, fans can expect a thrilling match on Monday.