Superstar ends career: Zverev on Nadal farewell: “Pain is the wrong word”

Alexander Zverev doesn’t want to look at the farewell to top tennis star Rafael Nadal with too much sadness. “Pain is the wrong word, I think,” said the Hamburg native (27). Nadal’s career was “a joy for the sports world.” “He really gave everything to the sport and probably gave more than he could ever give,” said the world number two in praise of the Spaniard (38).

After 22 years on the tennis tour and after 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal is over this week. At the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, which Zverev will miss out on, the Spaniard will say goodbye and end his impressive career.

Zverev is reminiscent of Nadal’s motto

“I wish him all the best for the week and I hope that he can enjoy his life after tennis. And I know it,” said Zverev.

Nadal “invented a famous saying”: You should play every point as if your life depended on it. “But you have to know that your life does not depend on tennis and tennis is not the most important thing,” said Zverev. “And I believe that the motto is that he will still live after his career and we will see him. He will not disappear, I believe.”

Memorable duels between Zverev and Nadal

Zverev and Nadal share extraordinary moments. Last May, Zverev defeated the Mallorcan in the first round in his last appearance on the Roland Garros stage. At the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, the Spanish clay court king triumphed 14 times and set one of his many records.

Zverev had to experience a painful appearance with a month-long break as a consequence in the semifinals of the French Open 2022. In the duel with Nadal, the Hamburg native injured his foot so badly that he was wheeled off the court in a wheelchair. Zverev was in top form at the time and was expected to win against Nadal and triumph at the French Open.