Morbid draw for Rafael Nadal, who could say goodbye to Paris in his debut against Zverev

Roland Garros 2024 is officially underway with the draw for the main draw, the moment in which tennis players begin to meet their first-round rivals and the path to the crowning title, in the second Grand Slam of the year. And in the list of names, that of Rafael Nadal was one of the most anticipated: it arrived with morbid luck for the Spanish tennis player, who will play against Alexander Zverev in the first round of his last time in Paris.

Rafa, 14-time Roland Garros champion, will risk his continuity in the competition that marked his career against none other than Zverev, currently number 4 in the world, recent champion of the Rome Masters 1000 and a great candidate to lift the champion trophy in a couple of weeks.

The duel also brings back the memory of Nadal’s last participation in Paris, when he faced Zverev in the 2022 semifinals and the German had to leave with a wheelchair after seriously injuring one of his ankles as a result of a fall. The score was 7-6 (8) and 6-6 in favor of Rafa, with a very even procedure and uncertain result. In that competition, the tennis player who He will turn 38 on June 3 He beat Casper Ruud in the final to reach the 22nd Grand Slam, the last of his already legendary career.

That was their last face to face in a history between the two that is in favor of the Spanish 7-3, with just one victory of Sasha in brick dust. He this year’s record It is eloquent and shows the contrast: Nadal played only 11 matches, of which he won 7 and lost 4; Zverev, on the other hand, has 28 victories and 9 defeats, with one title, the aforementioned conquest at the Foro Italico.

That 2022 was Rafa’s last participation at Roland Garros, who had to drop out last year as a result of the series of injuries that kept him practically out of competition throughout the season. With Nadal absent, the one who took advantage was Novak Djkokovic, who became champion and wants to repeat.

The match between Nadal and Zverev He will steal all the attention of the first round and the atmosphere at the Philippe Chatrier is already anticipated to be moving but will have the Spaniard in search of the epic. For Zverev, who is going for the first Roland Garros of his life and seems to have a better present than several competitors like Alcaraz or Djokovic, there was no worse debut.

If he overcomes Zverev’s obstacle, Nadal will not have an easy path, since among his potential rivals the Belgian appears David Goffin in the second round, the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor in third, the Danish Holger Rune in the second round and the Russian Daniil Medvedev In rooms.

His hypothetical rival in the semifinals would emerge from the duel between the Serbian Novak Djokovicworld number 1 and defending champion, and the Norwegian Casper Ruuddouble finalist in Paris.

In the other part of the painting, Alcaraz He will begin his participation in Paris against a rival from the previous phase, before meeting his path, hypothetically, with the British Jack Draper and the American Sebastian Korda.

In the round of 16, his rival could leave the duel between the American Bel Shelton and the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassimewhile in the quarterfinals he would be, if the ranking is respected, the winner of the match between the Russian Andrey Rublevsixth favorite, and the Greek Stephanos Tsitsipasnineth.

In the semifinals he would face the world number 2, the Italian Jannik Sinner or polish Hubert Hurkacz8 in the world.

Djokovic, who arrives for his fourth Roland Garros and his twenty-fifth major without having won a tournament so far this year, will begin his journey against the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbertbefore facing the Spanish Roberto Carballes or to french Constant Lestienne; in the third round the Frenchman will be measured Monfils Gel or Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

His rival in the second round could be the American Tommy Paulbefore facing Ruud in the quarterfinals and in the semis against Zverev, Nadal or Medvedev.

Sinner’s path, which comes with the Australian title, the first Grand Slam of the year, and with some physical doubts that have disturbed his season on clay, will begin against the American Christopher Eubanksto continue facing the Croatian Coric terminal or French Richard Gasquet and the british Cameron Norrie in third round.

In the round of 16 his rival could be the Chilean Nicholas Jarrywhile in the quarterfinals they should face, if the ranking is respected, the Polish Hurkacz, before facing Alcaraz or Rublev in the semifinals.

With information from Agencies