Rafael Nadal leaves door open to French Open return following first round loss to Alexander Zverev

22-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal was knocked out in the first round of the French Open by No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(7-5) 6-3.

In what is possibly his final appearance at the French Open, 14-time tournament winner and Roland Garros legend Rafael Nadal was knocked out in the first round by No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(7-5) 6-3 in three hours and five minutes. Zverev’s straight sets victory perhaps puts an end to one of the greatest love affairs in the history of sport. Nadal, the ‘King of Clay,’ walked off Court Philippe-Chatrier to a thunderous ovation befitting his remarkable record in Paris, which now stands at 112-4. Some of tennis’ biggest stars – and Nadal’s rivals – were in attendance to watch this piece of history; Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek, a self-confessed Nadal superfan, were all there to see the Spanish gladiator battle it out in front of an adoring crowd. “It’s difficult for me to talk,” Nadal said in his on-court interview after the loss. “I don’t know if it’s going to be last time I’m going to be here in front of you. I am not 100% sure, but if it is the last time, I enjoyed it. “The crowd have been amazing in the whole week of preparation. The feelings that I have today are difficult to describe in words, but for me, it’s so special to feel the love from the people in the place I love the most. “The first round wasn’t the ideal one,” he added of the draw against Zverev. “I was competitive, I had my chances, but it wasn’t enough against a great player like Sascha. For me, it’s difficult to say what’s going on in the future.