It’s almost weird how a 2019 era was peak tennis in a lot of respects. We got Roger making the final and giving us a legendary match in Wimbledon, djokovic winning it, Rafa at peak strength in his area, that electric us open. The real next-gen era which was the zverev tsitsipas medvedev rivalry. Thiem was peaking. We really were getting extraordinary masters to atp 500’s because the majors were still a big 3 thing
@@precociousdeathdealer202 No. Roger retired at 40 although he was struggling with his knee for a while before that and Rafa is 38 now. It had to end sometime.
Thanks for giving Zverev credit for the mental strength he had to show, and for acknowledging how tough this must have been for him. He had the trauma of the 2022 match, the expectations and also the whole crowd and world against him. He also kept his composure and held his temper in check. And he handled the post match scenes beautifully. He deserves a lot of credit and respect. And of course: mad respect for Rafa - but that is a given.
Rafa looked a little rattled to start. Had a bunch of UE at untimely moments. Broke serve well enough. The tiebreaker was wonderful. Thought Rafa & Sasha settled in after 2-3-4 games and played high quality tennis. If Rafa wins that 2nd set TB, we have a different match. Sasha's serving was also pretty potent. Great after match interviews by both. Thanx Gill. Cheers, Milan
If Rafa winst the 2nd set TB, we have a different match. And if he draws pretty much anyone but Zverev, or any Top4 in the first couple of rounds, we have a totally different tournament. He wasn't even lucky with the weather, the roof is perfect for Zverev's shots and takes so much off Rafa's spin pushing his opponent back and wide.
@@rafagoat575 Agreed! Rafa had flashes of Rafa magic but those UEs were a killer..for both. Especially for Rafa on break point chances. Rafa getting match time & real match sets would have made for a different RG FOR SURE!!! Hopefully the king of RG returns again - he plays so 1000% it must be brutal on his body. Cheers, Milan
Considering that Rafa has only played 15 times in the last 2 years his level today was impressive, specially against posibly the most on form player on tour right now.
Thank you, Gill. Excellent analysis of the match! I appreciate your professional and factual summary of Zverev's play and respect he showed to the king of clay. It must be mentally exhausting for Nadal to be asked over and over and over the same retirement question. It was great to see Novak in the audience watching the match...huge respect!
I think he just failed in important moments, like serving for the second set and the bad drop shot choices in the tiebreak. This match to me was way closer than “straight set win” might suggest. I think that if he stays healthy and improves his serve and decision making in key moments, he can be really competitive in the Olympics.
@@Bakert112Agreed. Not much he could’ve done in that 5-4 game in the second set, although part of the issue was simply that Nadal’s serve has nothing on it nowadays. He couldn’t get any free points to force Zverev onto the defensive.
Closer in the second set, yes. But not that much in the 1st and 3rd where he was clearly dominated and where his level was honestly not that impressive.
Just a terrible matchup for Rafa at this time. He played better than in Madrid and Rome but Sasha is the last guy you want to play. With Sasha’s serve and backhand, I just didn’t see where Rafa would be able to get an advantage. And then when he was hitting down the line forehands well on top of it, I knew it would not be a happy ending today. Rafa really needed to play himself into the tournament, but unfortunately was not to be.
So incredibly unlucky with the draw. I mean there are many very low ranked players playing each other and Rafa gets an in form Zverev, with the roof shut, just to make matters worse. He would have beaten the majority of players out there today.
Yep conditions killed him too. I thought that the 2022 SF was vastly exaggerated because it was a freak set of conditions which were about as bad for Nadal’s topspin as possible (humid indoors) - but then of all the luck, he gets Zverev indoors AGAIN and this time it’s not humid but it’s cool temperatures Having said that if we’re relying on him having certain conditions or draws anymore, it’s kinda time to call it a day. With his injuries seeding is so hard to guarantee and you can’t rely on no rain
Unlucky? Why is he unlucky? Should a 14 time champ get a unknown guy so to please the fans? C'mon, these kinds comments are disrespectful for the great champion he is.
Rafa did better than I expected him to do, but he's simply not the player he was even 2 years ago. Yes, he'll hit some highlight-reel shots that nobody else can, but he won't do that regularly enough to beat top players.
Nadal was up a break in two of the three sets so he confirmed that he can be competitive. However, you can tell young guns can now go toe to toe with him for much longer and once his level drops just a little, it's over now at 38. And that makes the difference, even if he's not that far. Plus, even if he wins once, you have to do it 6 more times in 3/5 format. It's seems unlikely that he can do that, especially not on hard or grass and on clay could be tough as well, given how difficult is to outhit top players and Nadal as we saw, can't run as much as before and cover the court as well as in his prime. I'd personally retire after olympics, but hey, you never know with Nadal.
dude it was his first match of good quality in the while, and literally the first match where he was somewhat "inform" while Zverev is blazing hot rn. he needs matchplay even at RG especially after such setbacks, if he were to meet Zverev in the quarters or so, it would've been a different story..
My point is that although he can be competitive in a single match, I don't think he can repeat it 7 times in a tournament and if you can't fight for titles, what's the point in keep playing? I just don't see his 38 old version staying fresh and healthy for one whole tournament, let alone to do it multiple times in a season. Which removes chances for him to go up in the rankings.
@@radilev1996he wouldn’t have to. Most of these tournaments he would be playing top seeds 2 or 3 times at most. Look at Djokovic’s draw. He might not have a serious threat until SF
I was at that match, it was incredible, not even that sad Rafa lost. He played so well! I still think Zverev shouldn't be allowed to play, big disgrace.
This match confirmed for me just how unlucky Nadal was with that draw. His level would have been enough against anyone besides the top 3 favourites and I think had he faced Zverev with a few more matches under his belt, it would have been much closer. I expect that if he plays the Olympics, he will play much better than he did here So I’m torn about saying he should pack it in. I just don’t know if he can have a clay season in 2025 that would set up his ranking and form enough to avoid what happened here with the horror draw coming too early for him in his comeback
I pretty much agree with everything you said. If Rafa does plan to continue next year, he is going to need to play more tournaments in order to get his ranking to a respectable level so he can avoid the top seeds in the early rounds. However, I don’t know if his body can withstand playing the type of schedule he will need to play to get the ranking up.
There are no certainties behind suppositions, Assuming he would win automatically against anyone else outside the top 3 favorites is kind of unrealistic. He may have won, he may not. It's impossible to know for sure.
I remember clearly how much Roger fought for to come back, to end things in his terms but accepted his situation and let it go with a wonderful event to remember for years. I feel like Rafa is in the same situation, I cannot imagine how hard it must be to let tennis go after all these years of being on top, giving everything to this sport to the max but, like Roger doing these days, now is time to sit back and enjoy the legacy that he builds, enjoy his legendary status and do other things because I don’t think they really realize what they have done when they are still professional players. Same for Novak too. I follow Roger on social media and guy is having the best retirement ever and after he stopped, he figured out what he left behind and what a legend he has become! Gill is spot on imo that Rafa wants some sort of closure for himself, to let it go, I hope he could find some today. I will always be thankful everything he brought to tennis, he is a living legend no matter what.
Wonderful wonderful comment. Really agreed with everything you said. Obviously that's our perspective. Also, Nadal's mind wants to continue, but the body doesn't feel like it used to although he seems to be more healthy but who knows what the future holds.
Spot on, specially when you say he wants to find some sort of closure. Hopefully he’ll have his chance at the Olympics as anything else seems almost impossible for all it entails
@@samy29987 thank you! Yes, it is another struggle, his body cannot keep up with his mind and let him do what he wants, that must be painful emotionally. Especially someone like Rafa with his playing style.
@@mavie727 i hope so too… It is extra difficult to end an extraordinary career like his. you can see he is all over the place emotionally and how hard it is for him.
Thank you @Gill Gross for this piece. It helped me processed what happened and feel good about it in the end. Happy for Nadal for being able to be competitive at RG once more.
In the moment, it may seem unfair that Rafa was coupled with Zverev in possibly his final match at Roland Garros but in hindsight I think it was the perfect send off. Having Rafa possibly win a 1st round match only to maybe bow out in the 3rd round to an unheralded journeyman would mean nothing years later. But him matched to a contender like Zverev brought eyes to the match and the necessary attention. He for moments showed the qualities that have made him a 14 time French Open champion. He fought tooth and nail with Zverev and never gave in. He gave us some final special moments which only a player like Zverev could bring out of him. Although maybe not a passing of the torch moment like when Federer beat Sampras at Wimbledon but it does close Rafa’s chapter at Rolan Garros in a fitting manner. Rafa should only ever be beaten by the very best at the French Open. A tennis player shouldn’t only be remembered for beating Rafa in his final match
Great summary, very nice covered. And agree that if he retires, he can still have a ferewell at RG next year. Olympics will be special for him and he could retire after that or at Laver cup.
Rafa had no reason to play.. Yet he chose to.. For me that's Rafa's legacy beyond all those mind boggling numbers - the mentality to just show up on court
Nadal played not too bad actually, but Zverev is just a better player then him in 2024. There wasn't a whole lot that Nadal had that could hurt him. Horrible match up for R1. Nadal could have beaten 3/4 of the field today, but he's not a top 20 player in current form.
Of course, Rafa could hurt him, broke him twice, but he was much too inconsistent. He was serving for the second set at 5-4, and it could have been a totally different match. Rafa was top ten on clay today, but that's not good enough if you play a top 4 guy who played as well as he ever did on this surface.
@@Harrokacharro you weren't watching the match then as this wasn't particularly competitive. That was an absolute curb stomping by Zverev. Just dominates the match stats. 20(!) more total points won in a 3 set match with a tie break set is getting dominated.
Have you ever played tennis? The stats don't tell you the story of a match. Zverev himself would not be so stupid to claim that he dominated the match. This was a close competitive three hour match that was decided in the tenth game of the second set.
@@Harrokacharro stats tell you exactly what happened here. Zverev hit and served both bigger and more accurately which you could both see and show up in IBM match data. Higher mph and rpm with less errors and high % of 2nd serve points won. This wasn't close and consistent with a decisive straight set win with massive point differential
@@Harrokacharro Zverev could put more steam into his game at every moment. He blasted many times his backhand into Rafa´s forehand and he did not even get close to it... Rafa was chanceless, there were higher chances, that Rafa ended in an oxygen-tent, than into the 2nd round 🙂
This really did have the makings of a UFC fight. An old champion facing the new gen, no real form checks to be able to tell what form the old champion is in, everyone taking cautious predictions but not sure what Rafa had in him. Idk how to describe it but it really did feel like a pay-per-view fight type of deal
You're right on a lot. The story of Nadal's 2024 boils down to an easy stat that lays bare how difficult it's become for him. Two years ago, he won The French Open beating no less than four Top 10 guys, bageling Rudd in the final. This year, he's played two Top 10 guys - Hurkacz in Rome, and Zverev - and not only did Nadal lose to both of them, he didn't even get a set from either of them. THAT'S the stat which reveals the true story. It shows how far off he is from two years ago. His camp was evidently more confident going into the Zverev match because for the first time in 2024, Nadal was winning his practice matches (in the other clay events he was losing a lot of them). Yet none of the practice form helped him. The truth is, Nadal never really was in the match against Zverev. It used to be impossible to beat Nadal from the back court on clay, and especially at RG. Not now. Zverev was winning that backcourt battle, and winning it without a lot of resistance. Nadal knew it, because he was trying to kamikaze his way into serve-volley just to win points. That "if" about maybe returning to RG next year seems a pipe dream. The Zverev match was the bellweather match to let Nadal know if he should continue playing. I think he got his answer: no.
38 next week, Oldest GS champ Rosewell 37 5 mths. Federer, Joker won GS's aged 36. With Sinner, Alcaraz around plus Medvedev, Tsitipas, Zverev, etc highly unlikely Rafa will win another. But, Rafa, such a fighter, maybe with a good draw if fit he could get a medal at the Olympics?
I honestly dont even feel that bad because, like rafa said and as everyone knows, zverev played absolutely god tier tennis. He played the kind of tennis that would win Rolland garros. So hat off to rafa for putting on a decent show. Now zverev gotta go win the whole thing else I wont forgive him. Just kidding. But fr tho he better not have some unexpected loss now that hes shown us his A+ level
That was a fantastic match for Rafa considering he's played like seven matches this year or something. Imagine if he had been match fit playing this match. And that's why i think he keeps leaving the door open - he wants to see the level he can play if he's at a competitive level with where the opponent is at. Of course he'll never be able to get himself 'match fit' if he keeps getting injured and barely plays. That's why this is 'probably' his last match at RG. But he'll see how his body is managing after the Olympics. If he's a physical mess, he'll continue with retirement plans. And if it's really bad, may not even play American hard court season. But If he's physically doing okay though we might see him on clay next year. My 2c.
He can still play at a top 5 level but A) can he maintain it for the duration of a bo5 and B) is being top 5 enough for him if he loses in the later rounds to top players?
Facts. I think Nadal beats anyone playing at this level besides Zverev, Djokovic (if he’s at his best), Alcaraz, or Sinner. Can’t really think of anyone else who’d beat Nadal at that level; maybe Rublev could wear him down?
🤨really? Nadal was beaten badly and looked out of sorts. Some of that is Zverev but If you view today and the last month of play in context, I think he loses to most of the top 20 in current form.
@@BillyBob-xi9ihwhat suggests he can play at a top 5 level exactly? His last 3 losses on clay this month were not particularly competitive. Today was a beat down
zverev was just too good for this version of rafa. not much he could have done better. maybe without the closed roof , he could have taken a set or two. but yeah it's over unfortunately. the movement is mid, the serve is mid and that puts to much pressure on him to hit big all the time.
In the second set Rafa could win the set. Rafa tried to be more aggressive and Sascha helped Rafa with his attitude, often fence-sitter. But on 5-4 for Rafa, Sascha made a perfect game (like to the perfect first set), and then... Rafa tried to create battle but was impossible. This version of Rafa is very good, I expected much less
@@Christian-507yeah , but let's be honest that level was not sustainable . he hit insane volleys and went down the line a lot . zverev was clearly the better player even in that set
I wanted a Novak-Rafa first round: 1- Woulda been a classic! 2- A third person wouldn't have gotten an undeserved title of beating Rafa in RG! 3- We wouldn't have Zeverev involved in one of the greatest moments in Tennis history!
1) I don't understand how worst FO Rafa against probably worst Novak in a decade could produce a classic, 2) That's not a title or anything. Would only make a difference if he was still unbeaten, 3) what exactly is the great moment?
He has already been fined. "ATP's code of conduct states that a player can be suspended if they are "charged with a violation of a criminal or civil law of any jurisdiction." So far, the ATP has chosen not to enforce this. Zverev should not be playing.
@@Jalleur14325That's a terrible regulation then and the only reason it's there is probably for pr reasons. You can't punish someone for something if it's not certain they actually did it.
I've observed the photo evidence and supporting testimony of herself, her friends, and family of the previous woman he battered, who will never get due process because she's Russian.. It is true that sometimes there are false accusations. It's unusual that there is that much evidence of guilt. And the current German accuser apparently has so much evidence that the German court already fined Zverev based on their legal statutes that there was enough proof already. (however, I do realize in the US, there are different laws and he'd be able to hire the best defense attorneys money could buy; so the outcome would be almost certainly different. Like OJ.) Will never root for Zverev, always against, and wouldn't watch him play except in this case I wanted to see one of Nadal's last stands. If he's in the finals with Djokovic, that may be the only other time I might.
The conditions were heavy, the ball had low bounce, almost no spin, he was playing on a damp & dumb clay. God Willing He will win the next year. Vamos Rafa!
My god the amount of atupid comments on this video. Wishing he had an easier draw, if roof was open, blah blah. You guys makng such comments are diatespecting the great champion he is. He wouldnt want an easy draw just to advance in the tournament and have the records padded up. He showed up and played some great shots. Just be happy we got to witness his career and stop making excuses.
I am not a professional tennis player at all. However, I do think Nadal's subconscious constantly reminds him not to make any moves that would be detrimental to him. The conscious and subconscious mind are very powerful. One of the most natural things for the mind especially when you have been injured so many times. Unwittingly, Nadal is protecting himself, My hapeths worth.
Zverev is, and has been, a major talent. I saw him win titles when he was 19-20. He has struggled with major injury and personal issues. He has endured a lot of criticism. I would like to see him win a major.
Maybe he should aim to retire at the U.S. Open? It's not that far away (four months so), it's his second most successful slam and I understand why he would want to keep pushing, especially with his improving health. Regardless, Nadal is a living legend, and he can do what he wants. I think I've seen him win 3 Masters 1000 in person, and it's amazing to see him live. There's no shame in losing to Zverev, so I think it was a good showing for Nadal overall. Thanks Gill!
Rafa is a shadow of himself but he still gave his all. His spirit never dies. Was dissapointed at Gaston loss considering Shelton, FAA and Fils are my least favorite players
Interesting, all of your "least favorite players" are black men and you are disappointed that Gaston loss, even though he has a controversial reputation. You do know that he is a problematic player(?)
He went out fit. Nothing here showed he should be stopping anytime soon. Zverev RI RG was an appalling bad luck Draw so a R1 exit at RG is no reason to stop playing or not come back to Paris. However, if he's unfit for Olympics? Exits Wimby R1 (if he plays), cant play or win the rest of the season? That will give him pause. He's not going to do an Andy Murray, and he's not in the same place as Stan Wawrinka Even more convinced that Zverev is taking RG.
rafa does not look well.. i think he’s probably had to rely on anti inflammatory.. pain numbing medicine for a long time. Clay is hard on the body. I have sympathy for him.
Bit of a controversial opinion: I have to say I lost a lot of respect for him (Rafa) after he back-pedaled on what he said earlier this year. He may have just denied himself and the fans a proper goodbye from RG just because of hubris. This was it; there will be no return next year. I see him going the way of Roger, which is sad, because that was the kind of drawn out retirement I was hoping he would want to avoid.
This was the best way for Nadal to go out at the French Open. He didn't lose to a Joey Chucklenuts, he lost to a top player. I don't think advancing to additional rounds would have made him play better, probably the opposite. Cheese sitting out in the sun doesn't get tastier as time goes by. He will continue to under-perform in every tournament he plays in the rest of this year. Once he realizes he just, "food for wolves", he will retire, and I'm betting this year is it for him.
I really believe Rafa shdve retired today at RG, esp after his definitive farewell in Madrid. He doesnt need 2 prove anything: he is The King of Clay w/24 GS! Andrew Murray announced his retirement x4. Its obviously not the money but ego & identity. Letting go, is not easy, esp if sport defined u & given u purpose.
They stopped doing the special seeding at Wimbledon two yrs ago I think. And Navratilova also said that it wouldn't be fair to 32 seed who worked hard all year to get to this point.
@@Nat-le4um it wasn't fair for Rafa as well who worked hard for all these 14 years to win the title..you cant compare one year effort to 14 years effort..
Rafa needed a better ranking not the pity of the Organizers....to avoid current top guns.I had thought if he ran into Alcaraz or Tsitsipas or Zverev first up ,it would be the end...
Really i don't get all this hype about Nadal. He couldn't close the second set, and he was horrible in the most crucial moments. Same in the match with Lehecka. As soon as he realises that, the better for him. Sascha was marvelous.
Yes, I agree, Nadal needs to set a stopping point. Time for him to retire while he still has a body that functions. He has a wife, child, money and a post-tennis life to look forward to. Enjoy the rest of your life Nadal.
Zverev was good but not great... Alcaraz,Tsitsipas or a tuned Djokovic would get him...Rafa was able to corner Zverev in Set 2 but with a serve like that Rafa is going to win not more than a match or two...
I think rafa shoudnt have played FO ....He was in such poor form and he thought that playing practice matches will work for him ....He thought that he will step in to Phillip Chattrier and he can do magic. Not happening
While it was Nadal's last match and he played some amazing shots, the commentary was horrible. It was wondering at its highest level. The 2 commentators were dick riding so hard, it was pathetic. There were times when they said the shot click shouldn't matter cos it's Rafa, some points should be given 2 points. I mean we all love him and what he's done but this was the worst commentary I have seen in some time.
Rafa will tarnish his legacy if he continues playing. For sure he still has the fighting qualities but his forehand is not lethal anymore and his movement is not as sharp as it used to be. Serve speed has dropped too. He should retire and not play until he needs a wheel chair to get to the courts.
How would he tarnish his legacy? He will have the titles he has no matter what! He can lose every match he decides to play next, he will still be one of the greatest of all time. He’s accomplished what all players could only ever dream of achieving, with the exception of Novak! If anything his fighting spirit only adds to his legacy, a fighter til the very last
No one understands Nadal and Novak who still expect to be winning grandslams. They have done what no one has done before, now is the time to retire gracefully as Roger did. And even Andy is still trying to push himself having done what no one has done especially with two metalk hips. Retire gracefully guys and go down in history as heroes.Younger platers are coming up with age on their side
Roger didn’t ‘gracefully’ retire. At 39(almost 40) was losing 6-0 vs Hurkacz at Wimbledon, and it wasn’t until the year after (at 41) that he actually decided on retirement. He had us all waiting for a miraculous come back for almost 2 years of battling a never improving knee injury. How do you truly call that “gracefully”?
@@David_james77 Federer effectively retired aged 39, he should have retired a year earlier as he never quite got back his fitness and winning a slam aged 38/39 was going to be improbable.
Really, just retire already. I get that its hard to give up what you love but this slow retirement is painful to watch. You have a kid, a beautiful wife, money...just live life and enjoy!
Disgraceful draw, and sorry, but it doesn’t feel accidental…didn’t Alcaraz say he had been the other potential opponent? But Rafa shines, regardless. He got what he needed.
@@sergiosarmiento4371 It was at least a bit unlucky when you see the draws that the other players with a PR got. There were 5 players who entered with a PR and their opponents were Navone, Diallo, Ruusuvuori, Van Assche and Zverev. Needless to say Rafa got by far the hardest draw out of them.
I agree on Nadal’s retirement. He’s in denial right now. He says, “I feel good so I’ll keep playing.” Well you felt good in 2022 until you had the rib injury, ab injury, and then the early 2023 hip injury. He can’t keep subjecting himself to the cycle of “I feel good.” “I’m injured, I just want to get back on-court and say goodbye to my fans.” “Okay I’m back, but I feel good now…” As for the match, I thought it was great quality in the last two sets. Sad that Nadal couldn’t take that second set to really give Zverev a scare, but there were some marathon games and great points by both players. Definitely was a top 10-15 level overall, and honestly the way Zverev played today I think he beats anyone in the draw, with only the top 3 at their best having a shot. Zverev may, unfortunately, lift the trophy in 2 weeks. We’ll have to see where Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic are at level-wise, but I can’t see anyone else beating Zverev besides those 3. Whereas I could certainly see all three of them being upset before the SF. Okay, maybe Tsitsipas would have a shot too but Zverev can’t play him until the final.
...because being one-dimensional yourself, you don't have the ability to perceive Zverev as being anything other than your own self-serving, over-emotional, aggrieved perception of him...much less whether he might be innocent or not. Best to return to your hell-hole to wallow in...and leave the spirit of tennis to Gill and the rest of us.🌸
![Eminem - Fuel (feat. JID) [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/t5H_CewqpKA/mqdefault.jpg)
It’s almost weird how a 2019 era was peak tennis in a lot of respects. We got Roger making the final and giving us a legendary match in Wimbledon, djokovic winning it, Rafa at peak strength in his area, that electric us open. The real next-gen era which was the zverev tsitsipas medvedev rivalry. Thiem was peaking. We really were getting extraordinary masters to atp 500’s because the majors were still a big 3 thing
The worst part is federer had no intention of retiring and even made it to aus open 2020 semi final. Covid chaos abruptly destroyed big 3 era😢
@@precociousdeathdealer202I mean they had a decade long triangular rivalry. All good things have to come to an end
Facts. 2019 was such an underrated year looking back
@@precociousdeathdealer202 No. Roger retired at 40 although he was struggling with his knee for a while before that and Rafa is 38 now. It had to end sometime.
You are weak and lack of respect
Thanks for giving Zverev credit for the mental strength he had to show, and for acknowledging how tough this must have been for him. He had the trauma of the 2022 match, the expectations and also the whole crowd and world against him. He also kept his composure and held his temper in check. And he handled the post match scenes beautifully. He deserves a lot of credit and respect.
And of course: mad respect for Rafa - but that is a given.
Well put
Well said
Rafa looked a little rattled to start. Had a bunch of UE at untimely moments. Broke serve well enough. The tiebreaker was wonderful. Thought Rafa & Sasha settled in after 2-3-4 games and played high quality tennis. If Rafa wins that 2nd set TB, we have a different match. Sasha's serving was also pretty potent. Great after match interviews by both. Thanx Gill. Cheers, Milan
If Rafa winst the 2nd set TB, we have a different match. And if he draws pretty much anyone but Zverev, or any Top4 in the first couple of rounds, we have a totally different tournament. He wasn't even lucky with the weather, the roof is perfect for Zverev's shots and takes so much off Rafa's spin pushing his opponent back and wide.
@@rafagoat575 Agreed! Rafa had flashes of Rafa magic but those UEs were a killer..for both. Especially for Rafa on break point chances. Rafa getting match time & real match sets would have made for a different RG FOR SURE!!! Hopefully the king of RG returns again - he plays so 1000% it must be brutal on his body. Cheers, Milan
Considering that Rafa has only played 15 times in the last 2 years his level today was impressive, specially against posibly the most on form player on tour right now.
David Ferrer was also there.
Thank you, Gill. Excellent analysis of the match!
I appreciate your professional and factual summary of Zverev's play and respect he showed to the king of clay.
It must be mentally exhausting for Nadal to be asked over and over and over the same retirement question.
It was great to see Novak in the audience watching the match...huge respect!
open roof, & hot weather wind, would hv made different scenario..hope rafa wins olympic gold now
I think he just failed in important moments, like serving for the second set and the bad drop shot choices in the tiebreak. This match to me was way closer than “straight set win” might suggest. I think that if he stays healthy and improves his serve and decision making in key moments, he can be really competitive in the Olympics.
It certainly looked that way. I do however think Zverev had another gear. Which he showed when he was break point down etc
Tbh when he was serving for the second set Zverev played insane. I agree on the dropshot in the tie break though that was bad.
@@Bakert112Agreed. Not much he could’ve done in that 5-4 game in the second set, although part of the issue was simply that Nadal’s serve has nothing on it nowadays. He couldn’t get any free points to force Zverev onto the defensive.
Closer in the second set, yes. But not that much in the 1st and 3rd where he was clearly dominated and where his level was honestly not that impressive.
I think he should play wimbledon. He is underrated there... if he can get the 1st serve percentage up, I can see him competing well there.
Just a terrible matchup for Rafa at this time. He played better than in Madrid and Rome but Sasha is the last guy you want to play. With Sasha’s serve and backhand, I just didn’t see where Rafa would be able to get an advantage. And then when he was hitting down the line forehands well on top of it, I knew it would not be a happy ending today. Rafa really needed to play himself into the tournament, but unfortunately was not to be.
Play himself into the tournament. You nailed it
So incredibly unlucky with the draw. I mean there are many very low ranked players playing each other and Rafa gets an in form Zverev, with the roof shut, just to make matters worse. He would have beaten the majority of players out there today.
Yep conditions killed him too. I thought that the 2022 SF was vastly exaggerated because it was a freak set of conditions which were about as bad for Nadal’s topspin as possible (humid indoors) - but then of all the luck, he gets Zverev indoors AGAIN and this time it’s not humid but it’s cool temperatures
Having said that if we’re relying on him having certain conditions or draws anymore, it’s kinda time to call it a day. With his injuries seeding is so hard to guarantee and you can’t rely on no rain
Someone had to face Zverev. Nadal shouldn’t be seeded just because he’s Nadal. This screws over someone who’s worked hard to achieve their ranking.
He should be grateful to get Zverev in the first round. No better outcome possible for him.
He was Lucky with the draw many time in the past. Just a normal draw. He had to cope with it and simply wasn't able to.
Unlucky? Why is he unlucky? Should a 14 time champ get a unknown guy so to please the fans? C'mon, these kinds comments are disrespectful for the great champion he is.
Rafa did better than I expected him to do, but he's simply not the player he was even 2 years ago. Yes, he'll hit some highlight-reel shots that nobody else can, but he won't do that regularly enough to beat top players.
Nadal was up a break in two of the three sets so he confirmed that he can be competitive. However, you can tell young guns can now go toe to toe with him for much longer and once his level drops just a little, it's over now at 38. And that makes the difference, even if he's not that far. Plus, even if he wins once, you have to do it 6 more times in 3/5 format. It's seems unlikely that he can do that, especially not on hard or grass and on clay could be tough as well, given how difficult is to outhit top players and Nadal as we saw, can't run as much as before and cover the court as well as in his prime. I'd personally retire after olympics, but hey, you never know with Nadal.
dude it was his first match of good quality in the while, and literally the first match where he was somewhat "inform" while Zverev is blazing hot rn. he needs matchplay even at RG especially after such setbacks, if he were to meet Zverev in the quarters or so, it would've been a different story..
My point is that although he can be competitive in a single match, I don't think he can repeat it 7 times in a tournament and if you can't fight for titles, what's the point in keep playing? I just don't see his 38 old version staying fresh and healthy for one whole tournament, let alone to do it multiple times in a season. Which removes chances for him to go up in the rankings.
@@slXD100completely agreed!
@@radilev1996he wouldn’t have to. Most of these tournaments he would be playing top seeds 2 or 3 times at most. Look at Djokovic’s draw. He might not have a serious threat until SF
I was at that match, it was incredible, not even that sad Rafa lost. He played so well! I still think Zverev shouldn't be allowed to play, big disgrace.
This match confirmed for me just how unlucky Nadal was with that draw. His level would have been enough against anyone besides the top 3 favourites and I think had he faced Zverev with a few more matches under his belt, it would have been much closer. I expect that if he plays the Olympics, he will play much better than he did here
So I’m torn about saying he should pack it in. I just don’t know if he can have a clay season in 2025 that would set up his ranking and form enough to avoid what happened here with the horror draw coming too early for him in his comeback
I pretty much agree with everything you said. If Rafa does plan to continue next year, he is going to need to play more tournaments in order to get his ranking to a respectable level so he can avoid the top seeds in the early rounds. However, I don’t know if his body can withstand playing the type of schedule he will need to play to get the ranking up.
Zverev let him have a few games and rightly so! Nadal ia toast!
There are no certainties behind suppositions, Assuming he would win automatically against anyone else outside the top 3 favorites is kind of unrealistic. He may have won, he may not. It's impossible to know for sure.
I remember clearly how much Roger fought for to come back, to end things in his terms but accepted his situation and let it go with a wonderful event to remember for years. I feel like Rafa is in the same situation, I cannot imagine how hard it must be to let tennis go after all these years of being on top, giving everything to this sport to the max but, like Roger doing these days, now is time to sit back and enjoy the legacy that he builds, enjoy his legendary status and do other things because I don’t think they really realize what they have done when they are still professional players. Same for Novak too. I follow Roger on social media and guy is having the best retirement ever and after he stopped, he figured out what he left behind and what a legend he has become! Gill is spot on imo that Rafa wants some sort of closure for himself, to let it go, I hope he could find some today. I will always be thankful everything he brought to tennis, he is a living legend no matter what.
Wonderful wonderful comment. Really agreed with everything you said. Obviously that's our perspective. Also, Nadal's mind wants to continue, but the body doesn't feel like it used to although he seems to be more healthy but who knows what the future holds.
Spot on, specially when you say he wants to find some sort of closure. Hopefully he’ll have his chance at the Olympics as anything else seems almost impossible for all it entails
I think Rafa wants to win it , infront of his son & he wants to have a family time. 15 RGs looks good..he was at 80% today not enough gainst zverv
@@samy29987 thank you! Yes, it is another struggle, his body cannot keep up with his mind and let him do what he wants, that must be painful emotionally. Especially someone like Rafa with his playing style.
@@mavie727 i hope so too… It is extra difficult to end an extraordinary career like his. you can see he is all over the place emotionally and how hard it is for him.
Thank you @Gill Gross for this piece. It helped me processed what happened and feel good about it in the end. Happy for Nadal for being able to be competitive at RG once more.
In the moment, it may seem unfair that Rafa was coupled with Zverev in possibly his final match at Roland Garros but in hindsight I think it was the perfect send off. Having Rafa possibly win a 1st round match only to maybe bow out in the 3rd round to an unheralded journeyman would mean nothing years later. But him matched to a contender like Zverev brought eyes to the match and the necessary attention. He for moments showed the qualities that have made him a 14 time French Open champion. He fought tooth and nail with Zverev and never gave in. He gave us some final special moments which only a player like Zverev could bring out of him. Although maybe not a passing of the torch moment like when Federer beat Sampras at Wimbledon but it does close Rafa’s chapter at Rolan Garros in a fitting manner. Rafa should only ever be beaten by the very best at the French Open. A tennis player shouldn’t only be remembered for beating Rafa in his final match
Well said-didn’t look at it that way before
Great summary, very nice covered.
And agree that if he retires, he can still have a ferewell at RG next year.
Olympics will be special for him and he could retire after that or at Laver cup.
Rafa had no reason to play.. Yet he chose to.. For me that's Rafa's legacy beyond all those mind boggling numbers - the mentality to just show up on court
Exactly!! Great comment
Zverev has overcome a lot..a severe ankle injury. and now he’s back! so happy for him.
Nadal played not too bad actually, but Zverev is just a better player then him in 2024. There wasn't a whole lot that Nadal had that could hurt him. Horrible match up for R1. Nadal could have beaten 3/4 of the field today, but he's not a top 20 player in current form.
Of course, Rafa could hurt him, broke him twice, but he was much too inconsistent. He was serving for the second set at 5-4, and it could have been a totally different match. Rafa was top ten on clay today, but that's not good enough if you play a top 4 guy who played as well as he ever did on this surface.
@@Harrokacharro you weren't watching the match then as this wasn't particularly competitive.
That was an absolute curb stomping by Zverev. Just dominates the match stats. 20(!) more total points won in a 3 set match with a tie break set is getting dominated.
Have you ever played tennis? The stats don't tell you the story of a match. Zverev himself would not be so stupid to claim that he dominated the match. This was a close competitive three hour match that was decided in the tenth game of the second set.
@@Harrokacharro stats tell you exactly what happened here.
Zverev hit and served both bigger and more accurately which you could both see and show up in IBM match data. Higher mph and rpm with less errors and high % of 2nd serve points won. This wasn't close and consistent with a decisive straight set win with massive point differential
@@Harrokacharro Zverev could put more steam into his game at every moment. He blasted many times his backhand into Rafa´s forehand and he did not even get close to it... Rafa was chanceless, there were higher chances, that Rafa ended in an oxygen-tent, than into the 2nd round 🙂
It's moments like these that I wish tennis was more like the UFC with matchmaking
But at least Rafa went out by holding his own against a top player
This really did have the makings of a UFC fight. An old champion facing the new gen, no real form checks to be able to tell what form the old champion is in, everyone taking cautious predictions but not sure what Rafa had in him. Idk how to describe it but it really did feel like a pay-per-view fight type of deal
You're right on a lot. The story of Nadal's 2024 boils down to an easy stat that lays bare how difficult it's become for him. Two years ago, he won The French Open beating no less than four Top 10 guys, bageling Rudd in the final. This year, he's played two Top 10 guys - Hurkacz in Rome, and Zverev - and not only did Nadal lose to both of them, he didn't even get a set from either of them. THAT'S the stat which reveals the true story. It shows how far off he is from two years ago. His camp was evidently more confident going into the Zverev match because for the first time in 2024, Nadal was winning his practice matches (in the other clay events he was losing a lot of them). Yet none of the practice form helped him. The truth is, Nadal never really was in the match against Zverev. It used to be impossible to beat Nadal from the back court on clay, and especially at RG. Not now. Zverev was winning that backcourt battle, and winning it without a lot of resistance. Nadal knew it, because he was trying to kamikaze his way into serve-volley just to win points. That "if" about maybe returning to RG next year seems a pipe dream. The Zverev match was the bellweather match to let Nadal know if he should continue playing. I think he got his answer: no.
38 next week, Oldest GS champ Rosewell 37 5 mths. Federer, Joker won GS's aged 36. With Sinner, Alcaraz around plus Medvedev, Tsitipas, Zverev, etc highly unlikely Rafa will win another. But, Rafa, such a fighter, maybe with a good draw if fit he could get a medal at the Olympics?
I honestly dont even feel that bad because, like rafa said and as everyone knows, zverev played absolutely god tier tennis. He played the kind of tennis that would win Rolland garros. So hat off to rafa for putting on a decent show.
Now zverev gotta go win the whole thing else I wont forgive him.
Just kidding. But fr tho he better not have some unexpected loss now that hes shown us his A+ level
That was a fantastic match for Rafa considering he's played like seven matches this year or something. Imagine if he had been match fit playing this match. And that's why i think he keeps leaving the door open - he wants to see the level he can play if he's at a competitive level with where the opponent is at. Of course he'll never be able to get himself 'match fit' if he keeps getting injured and barely plays. That's why this is 'probably' his last match at RG. But he'll see how his body is managing after the Olympics. If he's a physical mess, he'll continue with retirement plans. And if it's really bad, may not even play American hard court season. But If he's physically doing okay though we might see him on clay next year. My 2c.
Rafa, a true legend. We were lucky to see him at RG one last time.
From what I saw, only 3 or 4 guys would have beaten Nadal today. If he’s feeling healthy he should keep playing.
He can still play at a top 5 level but A) can he maintain it for the duration of a bo5 and B) is being top 5 enough for him if he loses in the later rounds to top players?
Facts. I think Nadal beats anyone playing at this level besides Zverev, Djokovic (if he’s at his best), Alcaraz, or Sinner. Can’t really think of anyone else who’d beat Nadal at that level; maybe Rublev could wear him down?
🤨really? Nadal was beaten badly and looked out of sorts. Some of that is Zverev but If you view today and the last month of play in context, I think he loses to most of the top 20 in current form.
@@BillyBob-xi9ihwhat suggests he can play at a top 5 level exactly? His last 3 losses on clay this month were not particularly competitive. Today was a beat down
@@droliver he can play at a top 5 level in short bursts, that’s what I meant. He played well in the 2nd set but couldn’t maintain it
zverev was just too good for this version of rafa. not much he could have done better. maybe without the closed roof , he could have taken a set or two. but yeah it's over unfortunately. the movement is mid, the serve is mid and that puts to much pressure on him to hit big all the time.
In the second set Rafa could win the set. Rafa tried to be more aggressive and Sascha helped Rafa with his attitude, often fence-sitter. But on 5-4 for Rafa, Sascha made a perfect game (like to the perfect first set), and then... Rafa tried to create battle but was impossible. This version of Rafa is very good, I expected much less
@@Christian-507yeah , but let's be honest that level was not sustainable . he hit insane volleys and went down the line a lot . zverev was clearly the better player even in that set
@@justusbeweel1109 and let's be realistic: if he won the 3rd set, could he have played two more sets? no way!
@@tombarca100maybe. But zverev is clearly the fitter player at this point in time. Just a terrible matchup for Rafa in every regard.,
It would have been really nice had Federer shown up to watch... (just say'n)
Sasha is playing really well ..his serve was great ..won’t be surprised if he wins it all
the rain ,the closed roof destroyed the whole plan , heavy ball bad luck
Ohh stfu. Stop making lame excuses. You're disrespecting the great champion he is.
I wanted a Novak-Rafa first round:
1- Woulda been a classic!
2- A third person wouldn't have gotten an undeserved title of beating Rafa in RG!
3- We wouldn't have Zeverev involved in one of the greatest moments in Tennis history!
Huh?
I know. Point 3 especially. A Rafa Novak opening round would've been epic. At least Murray had a good final moment.
Undeserved? I’m a massive Rafa fan but undeserved is going too far. He was beaten fair and square dude
3. Still third person beat him roof closed..so its still two person who beat him withouf roof
1) I don't understand how worst FO Rafa against probably worst Novak in a decade could produce a classic, 2) That's not a title or anything. Would only make a difference if he was still unbeaten, 3) what exactly is the great moment?
You have no need to apologise re: Zverev.
We all need to observe due process, period.
He played brilliantly.
He has already been fined. "ATP's code of conduct states that a player can be suspended if they are "charged with a violation of a criminal or civil law of any jurisdiction." So far, the ATP has chosen not to enforce this.
Zverev should not be playing.
@@Jalleur14325That's a terrible regulation then and the only reason it's there is probably for pr reasons. You can't punish someone for something if it's not certain they actually did it.
I've observed the photo evidence and supporting testimony of herself, her friends, and family of the previous woman he battered, who will never get due process because she's Russian.. It is true that sometimes there are false accusations. It's unusual that there is that much evidence of guilt. And the current German accuser apparently has so much evidence that the German court already fined Zverev based on their legal statutes that there was enough proof already. (however, I do realize in the US, there are different laws and he'd be able to hire the best defense attorneys money could buy; so the outcome would be almost certainly different. Like OJ.) Will never root for Zverev, always against, and wouldn't watch him play except in this case I wanted to see one of Nadal's last stands. If he's in the finals with Djokovic, that may be the only other time I might.
@@jeblmknctmabtaldlr Lmao of course you're a Novak hater. Pathetic
@@Jalleur14325 "Can be..."
It's their decision to make, not yours.
I'm not crying, you're crying
If the roof wasn't closed, the match could've had a different outcome .
Nadal hates playing 'indoors'
Open your eyes not a chance Rafa is a shadow now what he was.
The conditions were heavy, the ball had low bounce, almost no spin, he was playing on a damp & dumb clay. God Willing He will win the next year. Vamos Rafa!
My god the amount of atupid comments on this video. Wishing he had an easier draw, if roof was open, blah blah. You guys makng such comments are diatespecting the great champion he is. He wouldnt want an easy draw just to advance in the tournament and have the records padded up.
He showed up and played some great shots. Just be happy we got to witness his career and stop making excuses.
I am not a professional tennis player at all. However, I do think Nadal's subconscious constantly reminds him not to make any moves that would be detrimental to him. The conscious and subconscious mind are very powerful. One of the most natural things for the mind especially when you have been injured so many times. Unwittingly, Nadal is protecting himself, My hapeths worth.
Zverev is, and has been, a major talent. I saw him win titles when he was 19-20. He has struggled with major injury and personal issues. He has endured a lot of criticism. I would like to see him win a major.
Much better to go out to world number 4 than a lower ranked player
Maybe he should aim to retire at the U.S. Open? It's not that far away (four months so), it's his second most successful slam and I understand why he would want to keep pushing, especially with his improving health.
Regardless, Nadal is a living legend, and he can do what he wants. I think I've seen him win 3 Masters 1000 in person, and it's amazing to see him live.
There's no shame in losing to Zverev, so I think it was a good showing for Nadal overall.
Thanks Gill!
Rafa is a shadow of himself but he still gave his all. His spirit never dies. Was dissapointed at Gaston loss considering Shelton, FAA and Fils are my least favorite players
Aliassime je odlican na RGu...Alcaraz protiv njega ce biti vrh mec
Interesting, all of your "least favorite players" are black men and you are disappointed that Gaston loss, even though he has a controversial reputation. You do know that he is a problematic player(?)
@@joelmvdqp Yeap, but he must know that. And joel is black man's name lol. Got you triggered I assume...
Zverev should be concerned about having peaked too early in the tournament. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets knocked out in the QFs.
Good work, GG
RAFAEL NADAL👏👏
Rafa played better than expected, yet still far far from his best lever. Not very well in fact. Defeat was unavoidable.
did rafa say something about his child being sick?? during his post match speech?
He went out fit. Nothing here showed he should be stopping anytime soon. Zverev RI RG was an appalling bad luck Draw so a R1 exit at RG is no reason to stop playing or not come back to Paris.
However, if he's unfit for Olympics? Exits Wimby R1 (if he plays), cant play or win the rest of the season? That will give him pause. He's not going to do an Andy Murray, and he's not in the same place as Stan Wawrinka
Even more convinced that Zverev is taking RG.
rafa does not look well.. i think he’s probably had to rely on anti inflammatory.. pain numbing medicine for a long time. Clay is hard on the body. I have sympathy for him.
Post-match, as a Nadal fan, now I'm hoping for Zverev to take the trophy.
So unlucky with the draw. Nadal would have beaten Djoko in three sets
Cry cry cry more harder 😂😂😂
Bit of a controversial opinion: I have to say I lost a lot of respect for him (Rafa) after he back-pedaled on what he said earlier this year. He may have just denied himself and the fans a proper goodbye from RG just because of hubris. This was it; there will be no return next year. I see him going the way of Roger, which is sad, because that was the kind of drawn out retirement I was hoping he would want to avoid.
With Nadal, there is always a steep disconnect between his words and deeds. When has this guy ever honoured what he said ??
Roger Federer’s retirement vs Andy Murray’s? Which is better?
This was the best way for Nadal to go out at the French Open. He didn't lose to a Joey Chucklenuts, he lost to a top player. I don't think advancing to additional rounds would have made him play better, probably the opposite. Cheese sitting out in the sun doesn't get tastier as time goes by. He will continue to under-perform in every tournament he plays in the rest of this year. Once he realizes he just, "food for wolves", he will retire, and I'm betting this year is it for him.
Give him a shot at Olympics
This was enough to beat 98% of the field today. Zverev is just at top level right now, he served 77% first serve in which is ludicrous
Rafa does not want to retire. He still believes that he can win another slam.
in this weak era maybe he could.
@@soheiladam7510 like Federer's weak era?
@@MartinRiggs1820, nope like Djokovic's 2018-2022 weak era
@@MartinRiggs1820 That is a myth.
Not a chance. He's done.
Nadal will now skip Wimbledon claiming that he is not healhy or develop some micro muscle tear.
only difference is service between the two.nadal service is slow and not upto the mark so only he lost the match
Rafa has a girl a child and what we have problems congrats rafa for a GOAT Clay career
I really believe Rafa shdve retired today at RG, esp after his definitive farewell in Madrid. He doesnt need 2 prove anything: he is The King of Clay w/24 GS! Andrew Murray announced his retirement x4. Its obviously not the money but ego & identity. Letting go, is not easy, esp if sport defined u & given u purpose.
21* not 24 😂
Still I believe they could hv seeded Rafa as an honour, they did for Roger at wimy , why cant they do it once for 14 times RG champion
They stopped doing the special seeding at Wimbledon two yrs ago I think. And Navratilova also said that it wouldn't be fair to 32 seed who worked hard all year to get to this point.
@@Nat-le4um it wasn't fair for Rafa as well who worked hard for all these 14 years to win the title..you cant compare one year effort to 14 years effort..
@@gavaskar761 agree, but that's how the draws are made now, they don't count history performance, only current. There's nothing we can do about it
Rafa needed a better ranking not the pity of the Organizers....to avoid current top guns.I had thought if he ran into Alcaraz or Tsitsipas or Zverev first up ,it would be the end...
@@celestialspartan7977 It doesn't make sense for someone who has won 14 times not to be seeded by McEnroe
Really i don't get all this hype about Nadal. He couldn't close the second set, and he was horrible in the most crucial moments. Same in the match with Lehecka. As soon as he realises that, the better for him. Sascha was marvelous.
Yes, I agree, Nadal needs to set a stopping point. Time for him to retire while he still has a body that functions. He has a wife, child, money and a post-tennis life to look forward to. Enjoy the rest of your life Nadal.
Zverev was good but not great... Alcaraz,Tsitsipas or a tuned Djokovic would get him...Rafa was able to corner Zverev in Set 2 but with a serve like that Rafa is going to win not more than a match or two...
I think rafa shoudnt have played FO ....He was in such poor form and he thought that playing practice matches will work for him ....He thought that he will step in to Phillip Chattrier and he can do magic. Not happening
While it was Nadal's last match and he played some amazing shots, the commentary was horrible. It was wondering at its highest level. The 2 commentators were dick riding so hard, it was pathetic. There were times when they said the shot click shouldn't matter cos it's Rafa, some points should be given 2 points. I mean we all love him and what he's done but this was the worst commentary I have seen in some time.
Rafa will tarnish his legacy if he continues playing. For sure he still has the fighting qualities but his forehand is not lethal anymore and his movement is not as sharp as it used to be. Serve speed has dropped too. He should retire and not play until he needs a wheel chair to get to the courts.
How would he tarnish his legacy? He will have the titles he has no matter what! He can lose every match he decides to play next, he will still be one of the greatest of all time. He’s accomplished what all players could only ever dream of achieving, with the exception of Novak! If anything his fighting spirit only adds to his legacy, a fighter til the very last
I am upset seeing him play at this level. I feel your comments completely
'a thing' for who? Idiots who think longevity for longevity sake is meaningful?@CoolAce1-dv1pn
No one understands Nadal and Novak who still expect to be winning grandslams. They have done what no one has done before, now is the time to retire gracefully as Roger did. And even Andy is still trying to push himself having done what no one has done especially with two metalk hips. Retire gracefully guys and go down in history as heroes.Younger platers are coming up with age on their side
Roger didn’t ‘gracefully’ retire. At 39(almost 40) was losing 6-0 vs Hurkacz at Wimbledon, and it wasn’t until the year after (at 41) that he actually decided on retirement. He had us all waiting for a miraculous come back for almost 2 years of battling a never improving knee injury. How do you truly call that “gracefully”?
@@David_james77 Better to lose 6-0 in the quaterfinals of a Grand Slam than in the first round.
Thats gracefully for overdosed fans...@David_james77
@@David_james77 Federer effectively retired aged 39, he should have retired a year earlier as he never quite got back his fitness and winning a slam aged 38/39 was going to be improbable.
Really, just retire already. I get that its hard to give up what you love but this slow retirement is painful to watch. You have a kid, a beautiful wife, money...just live life and enjoy!
Then please, just don't watch!
Stop cryng it is time to retire for him but vanity is a nasty thing.
if zvervv wins this year, its some wat better to say Rafa to lost tat year RG champion
Disgraceful draw, and sorry, but it doesn’t feel accidental…didn’t Alcaraz say he had been the other potential opponent? But Rafa shines, regardless. He got what he needed.
It was accidental, that's what happens when you aren't seeded, you can literally play anyone in the first round.
@@sergiosarmiento4371 It was at least a bit unlucky when you see the draws that the other players with a PR got. There were 5 players who entered with a PR and their opponents were Navone, Diallo, Ruusuvuori, Van Assche and Zverev. Needless to say Rafa got by far the hardest draw out of them.
@@ashleythomas4112 yep, he certainly had the most unfortunate draw. But that doesn't mean it's anything suspicious.
@@sergiosarmiento4371 Yeah, that's true.
First !
I agree on Nadal’s retirement. He’s in denial right now. He says, “I feel good so I’ll keep playing.” Well you felt good in 2022 until you had the rib injury, ab injury, and then the early 2023 hip injury. He can’t keep subjecting himself to the cycle of “I feel good.” “I’m injured, I just want to get back on-court and say goodbye to my fans.” “Okay I’m back, but I feel good now…”
As for the match, I thought it was great quality in the last two sets. Sad that Nadal couldn’t take that second set to really give Zverev a scare, but there were some marathon games and great points by both players. Definitely was a top 10-15 level overall, and honestly the way Zverev played today I think he beats anyone in the draw, with only the top 3 at their best having a shot. Zverev may, unfortunately, lift the trophy in 2 weeks. We’ll have to see where Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic are at level-wise, but I can’t see anyone else beating Zverev besides those 3. Whereas I could certainly see all three of them being upset before the SF.
Okay, maybe Tsitsipas would have a shot too but Zverev can’t play him until the final.
Nadal has always been producing contradictory statements.
@@AlanRR121It’s not contradictory, it’s simply Nadal changing his mind
When the roids wear off he's not the same player😂
Nighty night 💔🐂🚫🚴🎾🏆🗼
If DVerev wins RG I might stop watching tennis
...because being one-dimensional yourself, you don't have the ability to perceive Zverev as being anything other than your own self-serving, over-emotional, aggrieved perception of him...much less whether he might be innocent or not.
Best to return to your hell-hole to wallow in...and leave the spirit of tennis to Gill and the rest of us.🌸
@@reliableandrew Imagine simping for a multimillionaire domestic abuser online. Do you beat your own girlfriend too? What about your kids?
I know. I didn't watch the match out of principle. Also the Saudi Arabia stuff is also pretty dark.
i hate rafa. Now that he has bowed out early novak wont be motivated enough to push and lift himself off the bad patch he is going through. 😢
He exited his court with a poise and dignity befitting a king. Sempre Re🤴🏻❤x14 🥹