The scene is unreal and will be one of the strong and painful images of this rather crazy Roland-Garros.
It was 6:10 p.m., we had already been playing for more than three hours in this ultra-tight semi-final between Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev when the German's 2 meters suddenly collapsed on the ground.
On a forehand from the Spaniard which allowed him to equalize at 6-6 and to get the tie-break of the second set, Zverev's ankle turned.
The worst possible outcome 🤕
Alexander Zverev, victim of a nasty ankle twist at the end of the second set, is forced to leave the court and does not seem able to resume the match against Rafael Nadal...#RGsurPrime #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/6jNjQ7X4s1
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) June 3, 2022
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On the Philippe-Chatrier court, everyone understood that the worst had happened when we saw the world number 3 stay on the ground without being able to get up.
Immediately, the game stopped, the public murmured in amazement and the doctor arrived on the court.
Under the eyes of Nadal who came to support his opponent, the German left on a wheelchair to the ovation of the public.
Zverev returns to the court on crutches to retire
Ten minutes later, Zverev came back on crutches to shake hands with the Majorcan and leave center court in tears, receiving a standing ovation.
Incredible outcome of an unlikely match.
The first set, which lasted 1h31, saw the German miss four set points while Nadal missed five before concluding on the sixth.
Little in legs, not very fit, the boss of the place was clearly not in a great day.
But the Spaniard took advantage of Zverev's mistakes in key moments to stay in touch.
In the second set, the German even served at 5-3 to come back to a set everywhere but Nadal did not give up yet to return in a second set which had already reached 95 minutes of play before ending abruptly.
"It's sad to end like this"
"It's very hard and very sad for him.
He was having an incredible tournament.
I know he's fighting to win a grand slam but I'm sure he'll win one because he's really, really good.
It's a super hard match and it's sad to end like this, "reacted Rafael Nadal on center court.
With 15 semi-finals already played at Roland-Garros, the Majorcan thought he had known everything.
Except the abandonment of an opponent which leads him to a 14th final in Paris which did not really seem acquired when Zverev turned his ankle.
Nadal really has a special destiny in this Roland-Garros 2022 which is really starting to look like an epic.
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Roland Garros 2022
Tennis
Rafael Nadal
Alexander Zverev