25-year-old Zverev cried out and left the track in a wheelchair. On crutches, he returned not much later to congratulate Nadal. He received a standing ovation from the audience.
Please note: the images below may be experienced as shocking.
Source† discovery+
Alexander Zverev screams in pain.
REUTERS
Nadal sympathized with Zverev: “This is very sad. He played great tennis this whole tournament and tonight. He is a great colleague. I know how hard he works to win a Grand Slam, so it’s very sad how things are going for him here. I’m sure he’s going to win big tournaments, multiple big tournaments.”
“It’s great to go to the final here in Paris again, but this is a huge downer for us and for all tennis fans. After three hours of tennis, we still hadn’t completed the second set, unbelievable,” said Nadal.
sizzling party
Zverev got off to a great start and immediately broke his Spanish opponent. At a score of 4-4, Nadal broke back. He took three games in a row, meaning the German had to serve not much later to stay in the set. Nadal had three opportunities to take the first company, but Zverev held on: 5-5.
Both men then kept their service game and so there was a tiebreak. In it, the two treated the audience to blistering tennis. Zverev got no less than four set points at 6-2, but Nadal fought back in a very clever way and managed to pull the set to himself: 7-6 (8).
Watch below when Zverev returns to the track in crutches.
Drama
In the second company, Nadal was the first to take an early break after a wonderful rally. It wasn’t over after that, because both men had the greatest difficulty in getting their service games in and the breaks flew back and forth. It was the German who was allowed to serve for the set with a score of 5-3, but he let Nadal escape again. The set seemed to be heading for a tiebreak again when disaster struck. In the final point of the twelfth game, Zverev broke his ankle. It was the end of the game for the German.
Nadal comforts the upset Zverev.
REUTERS
And so Nadal will be in the final for the fourteenth time in his career on Sunday. So far, he has won all his thirteen finals in Paris. The Spaniard can win his 22nd (!) Grand Slam title.