Zverev faces off against Nadal. - The newest trend?
In Court 6 of the Roland Garros tennis facility, Alexander Zverev rehearsed on Saturday. Nearby, Rafael Nadal addressed journalists in a crowded press room.
Beginning on Monday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion will play against the Tokyo Olympics winner in the initial round of the French Open. An excellent pick for the first match. "He's the number 4 seed and I'm not seeded. I always anticipated this situation when you're unranked," states Nadal, who currently ranks 276th in the world.
The game will likely be unbalanced.
Spaniard tennis titan Nadal experiences physical struggles due to multiple injuries. Simultaneously, Zverev is in peak form for the first time in two years. A week ago, he secured his sixth Master's trophy by winning the event in Rome.
Two years ago, on the same court, Philippe Chatrier, Zverev fell to Nadal in the semifinals and sustained ankle injuries that led to seven months of resting. "Since then, my goal has been to face him once more. I didn't want my enduring memory of a match against him to be that I was wheeled off in a wheelchair," said Zverev.
Nadal disagrees that being on Court Philippe Chatrier would affect his performance. "There's no magic."
Zverev will not believe in the lopsided battle. "In my mind, I envision facing Nadal in peak form. I expect him to display his finest tennis. This is how he performed in 2022." The emotions will undoubtedly be high, regardless of the match's result.
He expresses uncertainty about the likelihood of this being his final French Open. "The probability is quite high, though if you ask me if it's 100%, I can't confirm that, because I don't know how the situation may evolve. I enjoy playing, and my family and I appreciate our travels."
Finally, both athletes are excited about the match. "I've longed to play against this legend again, although I would've preferred a later encounter," says Zverev. "Of course, it's not the most favorable draw. I'm facing a potent adversary. I'd have preferred to do it later."
Compelled to return to the court, Nadal will compete in Berlin in September for the Laver Cup. However, he doesn't reveal if he'll also retire there.
"Give me more time. Maybe in a month and a half, I'll come to the decision that I can't continue anymore," says Nadal, "but I cannot definitively affirm that right now. If I didn't possess hope for success here, I wouldn't be here."
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Source: symclub.org
