Even though he holds the Spanish tennis legend in the highest regard, Alexander Zverev has stated that he doesn’t want to get overly emotional about Rafael Nadal’s upcoming retirement.
At this week’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, l Nadal is competing in his final tournament; later on Tuesday, Spain will play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Whether the 22-time grand slam champion and former long-time world number one will play in the match at all, and if he does, whether it will be in singles or doubles, won’t be known until an hour before the 1600 GMT start time.
In his eleven meetings with Nadal, Zverev has lost seven of them. Two of those matches were at the French Open, where Nadal won 14 times: the close 2022 semifinal in which Zverev had to retire late in the second set due to a serious ankle injury, and this year’s Roland Garros, where Nadal lost to the German in straight sets in the first round.
Zverev claimed that the word grief is inappropriate when discussing the end of Nadal’s illustrious career, which has brought joy to the sports world.
He talked about it and said: “He really gave his all to the sport and probably gave more than he ever could. I wish him all the best for the week and I hope that he can also enjoy his life after tennis. And I know he will.”
Zverev claimed that Nadal invented the saying ‘play every point as if your life depended on it’, but that it only applied on the court because life was more than just tennis.
He added: “You have to realise that your life doesn’t depend on tennis and tennis isn’t the most important thing. And I think he will live by that motto even after his career and we will see him. I think he is not going to disappear.”
Alexander Zverev in 2024
LWWWWWWWWL Ranked world no.2 (career-high), Alexander played his last match on the 16th of November when he capitulated to world no.4 Taylor Fritz 6-3 3-6 7-6(3) in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
Presently, during this year the German has achieved a composed 69-21 win-loss record. The German clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Australia, Rome and Paris. The German got to the final at the French Open and Hamburg.
Alexander Zverev will compete against the world no.29 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Round Robin on Sunday at 2:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their actual record is 6-2 for Zverev.
Zverev clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Australia, Rome and Paris. The German reached the final at the French Open and in Hamburg (Hamburg Open).
Zverev won 24 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts and 8 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Currently ranked no.154, the Spaniard played his last match on the 19th of November when he capitulated to world no.80 Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-4 6-4 in the Rubber 1 of the Davis Cup (draw).
Presently, during this year Nadal owns a composed 12-8 match record. Rafael Nadal’s best performance of this season was reaching the final in Bastad.
Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal faced off 11 times. Their record is 7-4 for Nadal. The last time they competed against each other, Alexander Zverev won 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 in the 1st round in Paris (French Open) on the 27th of May 2024.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
