After a long injury break, he is currently ranked 275th in the world and was therefore unseeded. The Spaniard lost a match at the French Open for only the fourth time ever. He had to give up once before the third round. If the match against Zverev on a packed Court Philipp Chatrier was indeed his sporting farewell from Paris, it was a combative and solid performance.
Although Nadal was, as he himself announced, more competitive than he had been two weeks ago in Rome, the soon-to-be 38-year-old’s performance was not enough against one of the title favorites. Nadal started hesitantly – not surprisingly given his lack of match practice. He fell behind 0:2 and lost the first set by a wide margin.
Reuters/Yves Herman The 14-time Paris winner Rafael Nadal had to bow to Alexander Zverev in the opening match
In the second and third sets, however, the Spaniard certainly had his chances. In the second, he served to tie the set at 5:4, but had a bad service game at that moment. In the third, he was leading 2:0 and had a chance to make it 3:1. In the end, neither the loud support of the 15,000 fans – including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek – nor a trumpet combo with drummers, who kept the atmosphere going, helped. Despite a few rallies that were reminiscent of the magic of days gone by, Nadal could not turn back the clock.
Sinner continues confidently
Italy’s tennis star Jannik Sinner had previously advanced to the second round in his first match after almost four weeks without losing a set. The Australian Open winner, who had recently been out due to a hip injury, beat the American Christopher Eubanks 6:3 6:3 6:4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. In the second round, the world number two will face the French wildcard holder Richard Gasquet.
French Open
Tableau Herren
Despite the clear result, Sinner did not appear to be in top shape, as expected, especially when Eubanks got him going. But the 22-year-old Vienna winner was able to save himself in some tricky situations, especially with his strong serve.
Swiatek continues effortlessly
In the women’s singles, number one Swiatek, like Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who was already in the final at Roland Garros in 2019, easily overcame her first hurdle with a 6:1 and 6:2 win against Leolia Jeanjean (FRA). The Czech defeated Spaniard Rebeka Masarova 6:1,6:3. American Coco Gauff clearly beat Russian qualifier Julia Avdeeva 6:1,6:1.
French Open
Tableau Damen
Rain also disrupted play on the second day, at least for the time being. After just under an hour and a half of play, play on the outdoor courts was stopped shortly after 12.30 p.m., and play could only continue on Court Philippe Chatrier and, this year, Court Suzanne Lenglen, thanks to flexible roofs.
French Open in Paris, Men’s Singles
(France, Grand Slam tournament, 53.5 million euros, clay court)
Starting table: Novak Djokovic (SRB/1) Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) Constant Lestienne (FRA) Gael Monfils (FRA) Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA) -:- -:- -:- Lorenzo Musetti (ITA/30) Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) -:- -:- -:- Francisco Cerundolo (ARG/23) Yannick Hanfmann (GER) :- -:- -:-
Filip Misolic (AUT) Otto Virtanen (FIN) -:- -:- -:- Botic Van De Zandschulp (NED) Fabio Fognini (ITA) -:- -:- -:- Tommy Paul (USA/14) Pedro Cachin (ARG) -:- -:- -:- Taylor Fritz (USA/12) Federico Coria (ARG) -:- -:- -:- Dusan Lajovic (SRB) Roman Safiullin (RUS) -:- -:- -:- Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) -:- -:- -:- Adrian Mannarino (FRA/22) Giulio Zeppieri (ITA) -:- -:- -:- Thomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG/28) Arthur Cazaux (ARG/28) FRA Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) Adam Walton (AUS) Alexander Davidovich Fokina (ESP) Valentin Vacherot (MON) Casper Ruud (NOR/7) Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) -:- -:- -:- Alexander Zverev (GER/4) Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6:3 7:6 (7/5) 6:3 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) David Goffin (BEL) Rinky Hijikata (AUS) Luciano Darderi (ITA) Tallon Griekspoor (NED/26) Mackenzie McDonald (USA) :- -:- -:- Karen Chatschanow (RUS/18) Sumit Nagal (IND) 6:2 6:0 7:6 (7/5) Jozef Kovalik (SVK) Marcos Giron (USA) 7:6 (7/5). 3) 6:4 3:6 7:6 (7/5) Flavio Cobolli (ITA) Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) -:- -:- -:- Holger Rune (DEN/13) Daniel Evans (GBR) -:- -:- -:- Alex de Minaur (AUS/11) Alex Michelsen (USA) -:- -:- -:- Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) Jaume Munar (ESP) -:- -:- -:- Roman Andres Burruchaga (ARG) Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) Alexander Bublik (KAZ/19) Gregoire Barrere (FRA) Mariano Navone (ARG/31) Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) Nuno Borges (POR) Tomas Machac (CZE) Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) Thiago Monteiro (BRA) – Daniel Medvedev (RUS/5) Dominic Koepfer (GER) -:- -:- -:- Andrei Rubljew (RUS/6) Taro Daniel (JPN) 6:2 6:7 (3/7) 6:3 7:29. 5 Pedro Martinez Goalkeeper (ESP) Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG) 5:7 6:4 3:6 6:4 6:3 Alexandre Muller (FRA) Luca Nardi (ITA) 6:4 6:1 6:3 Matteo Arnaldi ( ITA) Arthur Fils (FRA/29) 6:3 4:6 6:4 6:2 Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) Ugo Humbert (FRA/17) 6:4 2:6 6:4 6:3 Zhang Zhizhen (CHN) Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6:4 4:6 6:3 7:5 Daniel Altmaier (GER) Laslo Djere (SRB) 7:5 6:4 6:7 (6/8) 5:7 7:6 (10/10) 6) Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/9) Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 7:6 (9/7) 6:4 6:1 Ben Shelton (USA/15) Hugo Gaston (FRA) 3:6 6:3 6:4 :4 Kei Nishikori (JPN) Gabriel Diallo (CAN) 7:5 7:6 (7/3) 3:6 1:6 7:5 Henry Squire (GER) Max Purcell (AUS) 6:2 6:2 3:5. 6 4:6 7:6 (12/10) Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN/21) Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 6:2 6:4 6:4 Sebastian Korda (USA/27) Harold Mayot (FRA) 6:2 7:6 (7/4) 6:4 Kwon Soon Woo (KOR) Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6:3 6:4 6:3 Jesper de Jong (NED) Jack Draper (GBR) 7:5 6:4 6:4. 7 (3/7) 3:6 6:3 Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/3) Jeffrey John Wolf (USA) 6:1 6:2 6:1 Hubert Hurkacz (POL/8) Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN) 4:6 :3 3:6 6:0 6:3 Brandon Nakashima (USA) Nicolas Moreno de Alboran (USA) 6:1 6:7 (6/8) 6:3 6:2 Luca van Assche (FRA) Denis Shapovalov (CAN). -:- -:- -:- Frances Tiafoe (USA/25) Mattia Bellucci (ITA) -:- -:- -:- Zizou Bergs (BEL) Alexander Tabilo (CHI/24) 3:6 7:6 ( 7/5) 6:2 6:2 Maximilian Marterer (GER) Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6:3 6:2 6:0 Fabian Marozsan (HUN) Michail Kukuschkin (KAZ) 6:2 6:2 6:3 Grigor Dimitrow (BUL/10) Alexander Kovacevic (USA) 6:4 6:3 6:4 Corentin Moutet (FRA) Nicolas Jarry (CHI/16) 6:2 6:1 3:6 6:0 Alexander Schewtschenko (KAZ) Aslan Karazew (RUS) 6:4 4:6 1:6 6:1 6:4
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) Terence Atmane (FRA) 3:6 4:6 7:6 (7/2) 6:2 7:5 Sebastian Baez (ARG/20) Gustavo Heide (BRA) 4:6 6:3 6:1 :6 6:3 Cameron Norrie (GBR/32) Pawel Kotow (RUS) -:- -:- -:- Stan Wawrinka (SUI) Andy Murray (GBR) 6:4 6:4 6:2 Richard Gasquet (FRA) Borna Coric (CRO) 7:6 (7/5) 7:6 (7/2) 6:4 Jannik Sinner (ITA/2) Christopher Eubanks (USA) 6:3 6:3 6:4
