Rafael Nadal was always going to be up against it when he learned of his first-round draw at Roland Garros, and he certainly put up a fight.
But in the end, he never really stood a chance against the younger, fitter and more in-form Alexander Zverev, no matter how the crowd cheered for him.
Despite that, it was an admirable showing, and were he to have served out for the second set, as he had the chance to do so, things could have been so different.
However, a tie-break defeat condemned him to a straight sets loss, as he bowed out of the French Open for the final time.
Or so we thought…
Rafael Nadal provides fitness update
Speaking after his crushing but spirited first-round exit, the legendary Spaniard claimed: ‘No, I mean, not bad feelings. I showed myself that I was ready for more than what I did at the end, that is, losing in the first round.
‘But that’s how it is, no? When you are not seeded, you play against a player who is in great shape and is one of the best players of the world.
‘As I said before, it was a positive week for me in practice in all ways. In terms of physical performance, too. Without a doubt I felt much better than before. I didn’t feel those limitations. Today in the match the same. I felt I was able to move myself much better than in the previous tournaments.
‘I played at a good level in all ways, comparing to the way that I was playing the weeks before. So, happy for that. Of course disappointed for losing, but in terms of body feelings, happy that I finish healthy, you know, and I had a tough battle out there. And I was ready for a little bit more.
‘So that’s it. Accept the moment. If it’s the last time that I played here, I am in peace with myself (smiling). I tried everything to be ready for this tournament for almost 20 years. And today and the last two years I have been working and going through probably the toughest process in my tennis career with the dream to come back here, no? At least I did. I lost, but that’s part of the business.’
We have not seen the last of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros
Weirdly enough, Nadal‘s match yesterday just did not feel like his final one at the French Open.
After all, having suggested as much in the run-up, the tournament actually opted against offering him a grand farewell.
That alone should mark a huge indicator that Nadal plans to return to Roland Garros next season, in much fairer circumstances.
Should he take this promising run of fitness and form and translate it through the next 12 months without any significant setbacks, there is every chance that he could come into the 2025 tournament seeded given the calibre of player he has dispatched over the last few weeks.
The 37-year-old deserves a huge, extravagant goodbye from Roland Garros whenever he decides to call time on his career, and until he officially does that, we can hold out hope that this year was not his last.
Regardless, the show must go on in Paris, and we are set to be treated to another mouth-watering day of action given the Roland Garros schedule.
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