Rafael Nadal refused to confirm whether he has made his final appearance at the French Open, after losing 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to German world No 4 Alexander Zverev in the first round today, Monday May 27.
Speaking on-court after the match, Nadal said that it was hard for him to speak.
“I went through all this process with the dream to be back here in Roland Garros,” he said.
“For me it is difficult to say what is going on in the future. It is a big percentage that I will not be back playing here, but I cannot say 100 per cent.
“I enjoy playing here. The body is feeling a little better than two months ago, so…maybe in two months I say ‘it’s enough,’ but this is something I don’t feel yet.”
GO DEEPER
No miracle on Chatrier: Nadal loses fourth match in 18 years at French Open
Nadal looked ahead to the Olympics, saying that he wanted to be ready to return to this very court for the event, and reflected on his memories of the French Open, where he has won 14 titles, and now has a record of 112-4.
In winning, Zverev became only the third player to defeat Nadal at Roland Garros, after Sweden’s Robin Soderling, and Novak Djokovic, who has done it twice.
(Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images)
