A fantastic match that ended in pain, on chilling images: fate was cruel to the spectators and above all to Alexander Zverev, this Friday, June 3, during the first semi-final of the Roland-Garros tournament against to Rafael Nadal.
We had just exceeded three hours of play on the Philippe-Chatrier court, the Spaniard was leading a set to zero and had just come back to 6-6 in the second set when his German opponent collapsed.
The world No. 3 had just slipped on clay to return the ball.
Immediately, the Olympic champion in Tokyo last summer screamed in pain and lay down.
The replays are hard to see: his right ankle bent at an abnormal angle, suggesting a sprain.
Rafael Nadal and several members of the tournament's technical staff came to his bedside, worried.
Evacuated from the field in a wheelchair, the German received some treatment in the locker room.
But there was nothing to do.
Shortly after, Alexander Zverev returned to the field walking on crutches to greet the referee, his opponent and the public, unable to resume this semi-final.
Beaten at the same stage of the competition last year by the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, "Sascha" Zverev aspired to reach the final this time.
His injury dashed his hopes.
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