TENNIS
Is Rafael Nadal playing in his last French Open at Roland-Garros in 2024?
Nadal starts the tournament with a blockbuster first-round clash against fourth seed Alexander Zverev. Could it be his last match in Paris?
Rafael Nadal could hardly have picked a tougher first-round opponent at the 2024 French Open than Alexander Zverev, who won last week’s Italian Open in Rome, also in clay. The 14-time champion gets underway against the fourth seed on Monday, with some wondering whether it could be Nadal’s last ever match at Roland-Garros.
How many times has Nadal won at Roland-Garros?
The Spaniard has 22 Grand Slam titles to his name, second only Novak Djokovic, who remains the world number one and will be hoping to get to 25 over the next two weeks. As mentioned, 14 of Nadal’s major victories have come in Paris, eight more than anyone else in the Open Era.
While the 37-year-old is the undisputed king of Roland-Garros, the chances of him adding to his tally appear to be slim. Since last winning the tournament in 2022, he has missed extended periods of action through injury, with retirement seemingly on the cards at various moments.
Nadal’s recent form on clay
In true Nadal fashion, he has battled back to fitness and warmed up for this year’s French Open by competing in three clay court tournaments, although he has suffered relatively early defeats in Barcelona (round of 32), Madrid (round of 16) and Rome (round of 64).
That would suggest world number four Zverev, 10 years his junior and full of confidence, should prove too strong for him at this stage of his career. However, even if that does prove to be the case, Nadal says there is a chance we won’t have seen the last of him at Roland-Garros.
Will Nadal play in the French Open in 2025?
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Nadal revealed: “In some way I don’t want to close 100% the door. Physically I feel better, I am improving in different ways and I have less limitations than three or four weeks ago.
“I am grateful I am able to be in Roland Garros and give myself a chance to play at least one more time here - maybe the last one, maybe not.
“I am feeling competitive in the practices. I am able to play almost anyone. That has given me some hope.”
“Maybe,” then, we will see Nadal again in Paris, even if Zverev does prevail, as many expect. Especially if the French Open icon is able to prove that he is indeed “competitive” against one of the world’s top current stars.