Alexander Zverev’s dream of the title in Paris bursts in the most bitter way: the third in the world rankings twisted his ankle in the semifinals and had to give up injured.
Alexander Zverev dragged himself back onto the court on crutches, the Paris audience cheered the inconsolable Olympic champion deafeningly.
The top German player, whose dream of his first Grand Slam victory had dramatically burst in tears, thanked the referee and congratulated his opponent Rafael Nadal – who, shocked, tried to offer consolation.
“For me, a dream comes true with another final,” said Nadal: “But I was just with him in the small room. Seeing him crying is really a difficult moment. I hope nothing is broken.” Zverev’s brother Mischa suffered in the TV studio: “Sascha never cries. Never!” He said on “Eurosport” with tears in his eyes: “We hope for the best in terms of the prognosis.”
Alexander Zverev’s start in Wimbledon (from June 27th) seems acutely endangered.
Minutes earlier he had screamed in pain after spraining his right foot and falling while chasing the ball. Zverev was pushed off the pitch in a wheelchair and finally had to give up when the score was 6: 7 (8:10), 6: 6.
All chances of his second final after the US Open 2020 were gone. In the evening, according to “Eurosport”, he left the facility with a splint around his ankle.
“It’s really very tough, he played incredibly. I know how hard he’s fighting for a Grand Slam title,” said Nadal, who has the chance of his 14th title in Roland Garros: “I’m sure he’ll win more than one. We played three hours and the second set wasn’t even over.”
Jump to the top of the world rankings not possible for the time being
Zverev lost all chances of an endgame in which he could have calculated a lot. But it is Nadal who meets Norwegian Casper Ruud as a favorite on Sunday (3 p.m.).
The jump to the top of the world rankings is also no longer possible for Zverev. The only German to make it to the final in Paris is Michael Stich in 1996. Boris Becker’s last German Grand Slam victory to date in Melbourne was the result of the same year.
Zverev had seemed relaxed the day before the women’s final between serial winner Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff (3 p.m.).
The German number one, not one of the absolute favorites before the start of the tournament due to the changeable and untitled season so far, threw his hat in the ring with a prestige win against the child prodigy Carlos Alcaraz – and was initially able to do the famous duel with Nadal Connect performance.
Zverev leaves four set balls unused
Zverev dominated with great power from the baseline, immediately took Nadal’s serve and pulled away to 4: 2. But the Spaniard came back and from the end of the first set the match became a thriller.
When the score was 4: 5, Zverev fended off three set balls with nerves of steel and earned four chances to win the round in the tie-break. Nevertheless, Nadal grabbed the set lead after 92 minutes, making the task even more difficult.
But Zverev fought undeterred and continued to create good chances in the second round. Winning the round would have given him fresh momentum. But then he lost his balance during a rally, suffered a serious injury and limped sadly out of the big arena.