In 2024, Rafael Nadal played at Roland Garros for one final time.
The King of Clay was on his last trip around the ATP Tour that year, having ultimately retired at the Davis Cup.
Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros champion, had only ever lost three matches at the tournament heading into the 2024 edition.
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Ranked 276th in the world at the time, the Spaniard entered with a protected ranking, and faced Alexander Zverev in the first round.
Nadal lost to Zverev, and tennis legend John McEnroe thought the decision to not have him as a seeded player was ‘crazy’.
John McEnroe’s criticism of the French Open in 2024
As per Tennis 365, McEnroe said: “It makes no sense that someone who has won 14 times is not seeded.
“It is the way the tournament has always acted. For me it is crazy. It is the most interesting first round of a Major that I remember and the most tough [in the] Open Era for someone like Nadal.
“He has to do whatever he wants. He loves to compete and if he loses to Zverev it does not mean that all his records at Roland Garros will be lost. Maybe his time has come to be a father and everyone’s time has come.
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“Maybe I’m wrong and he’ll be able to do something special here. It’s a question mark as to how his body will recover as the rounds go by.
“On the one hand it will be a surprise, and on the other it won’t. People like him, Novak or Roger are Superman.”
Alexander Zverev’s reaction to beating Rafael Nadal in 2024
In his post match press conference after beating Nadal, Zverev said: “It was definitely special. I didn’t know how to act in certain moments, especially at the end of the match.
Obviously there is, you know, uncertainty whether he’s going to come back and play next year. He’s definitely going to be back for the Olympics. But generally, as just Roland Garros, obviously there is uncertainties.
“I think the improvement he’s made over the past few months and just the difference in level that he’s played today compared to his last tournaments was unbelievable. I really felt like it was a very good match.
“Yeah, I think if he stays healthy, he’s going to continue playing better, and then I think, you know, he’s going to be seeded again and then that makes it more easier for him, for sure.”
Zverev reached the final of the French Open in 2024, where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz.
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