Rafael Nadal could be playing for the final time at the French Open when he takes on Alexander Zverev in the first round. The match is meaningful for many reasons, though the most important is that Nadal could never play at Roland Garros again. Whoever wins the match could go on to win the entire tournament.
Nadal, of course, would normally be seeded. He has won the event 14 times and has normally been ranked in the top five in his career. A hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open in January, though, ruined his year and he did not return until the beginning of 2024. The Spaniard has not been in his best form when he has played this year and has not been able to play many events.
Zverev is in the opposite situation. After suffering a horrific ankle injury at the French Open in 2022, a match he was playing against Nadal at the time, the German fell in the rankings and took almost a year to recover fully. Before the injury, he had a decent chance of reaching No. 1 on the ATP tour.
What time will Rafael Nadal play Alexander Zverev at the French Open?
Zverev recently won the Italian Open. His success at the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome moved him up to No. 4 and should make him a favorite at Roland Garros. He is excellent on clay and has played ten career matches against Nadal. Unlike some potential first-round draws Nadal could have had, Zverev will have no fear against the Spaniard.
Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev will play in the first round at the French Open on Monday. The match is scheduled to start at 15:00 Paris time (9 a.m. ET) and will be held on Court Philippe-Chatrier, which is center court at Roland Garros. There is currently only one match scheduled on the court prior to the Nadal and Zverev match, so there should not be a delayed start time for the match.
While Zverev is the younger, fitter, and more recently successful of the two players, Nadal can never be counted out at the French Open. The crowd will also be firmly behind Nadal.
