This was perhaps one of the matches of the decade. Or even the century. More than three hours of combat, for only two short sets played. The second had not even finished. Between Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal, the duel was bitter during the semi-finals of Roland-Garros 2022. On yet another lateral race, the German’s right foot was however blocked in the clay, putting an end to this superb show.
However, the world number 4 had never seemed so close to bringing down the king of clay. Confident after defeating rising star Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the quarter-finals, Alexander Zverev anticipated a second Grand Slam final, the first in Paris. And the Spaniard saw, perhaps, his 14th title at Porte d’Auteuil slip away.
“I was playing the tennis of my life”
“I thought I could beat Rafa on his court that day,” the German admitted a few weeks after his injury. Rafa remains the greatest player to have played on this surface. We don’t know how it would have ended. I might have lost, even without my injury. Maybe it wouldn’t have changed anything but I was playing the tennis of my life on clay. At the very least, I felt like I was competing with him and that this could be my moment. »
His ankle decided otherwise. As he tried to go for yet another uncrossed forehand from Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev collapsed and screamed in pain. His right foot had indeed stuck in the clay, and the ankle had turned. Lying on the ocher for a long time, the German will painfully exit before finally returning to the Philippe-Chatrier court on crutches to say goodbye to the crowd. The verdict arrived a few hours later: three ligaments were torn.
“Seeing Sascha cry is really hard”
Despite the cheers of the public, disappointment is certain at Porte d’Auteuil. Because the spectacle was there, despite particularly slow playing conditions, and the match, after already three hours of play, promised to be interminable and unbreathable. “I’m really sorry and sad for him,” whispered the Spaniard after the match. He was playing an incredible tournament and I know how much he wants to win a Grand Slam. The match was super difficult and I don’t really know what to say in this kind of situation. Of course, it’s a dream to be in the final once again but to end like that is unfortunate and to see Sascha cry is really hard…”
After the tears, Alexander Zverev inevitably goes through the operation box, and launches into a race against time to get back on the pitch, and especially his level. “For two months, I was not able to put my foot on the ground,” he said at Roland-Garros last year. I had to relearn how to walk, how to run, how to move. So many things that could possibly be used to play tennis. »
He will finally return to competition in December, during an exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia, and will return to the semi-finals at the French Open in 2023. The final, however, escaped him once again, with a heavy defeat against Casper Ruud . Winner of the Masters 1000 in Rome last Sunday, Alexander Zverev hopes to pass the milestone this year. To do this, he will have to overcome Rafael Nadal in the first round. No small feat.
