This was the cruel injury to Zverev that gave Nadal the pass to the Roland Garros final

The end of his participation in Roland Garros could not have been more cruel for Alexander Zverev, who retired in the semifinals against Rafa Nadal due to a painful injury to his right ankle at the point prior to the dispute of the tie break of the second set (7-6 and 6 -6).

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
03 June 2022 Friday 10:21
9 Reads
This was the cruel injury to Zverev that gave Nadal the pass to the Roland Garros final

The end of his participation in Roland Garros could not have been more cruel for Alexander Zverev, who retired in the semifinals against Rafa Nadal due to a painful injury to his right ankle at the point prior to the dispute of the tie break of the second set (7-6 and 6 -6). The heartbroken German couldn't even put his foot down as Philippe Chatrier left the track.

After more than three hours of a close battle, the World No. 3's right foot failed to slide on the clay and bent enough to cause Zverev to scream in pain, immediately falling to the ground. Nadal celebrated the point that forced the tiebreaker of the second set, but a moment later he noticed the injury of his rival.

The Mallorcan crossed the net to worry about a Zverev who was touching his battered ankle between sobs, aware that he was not going to be able to continue playing. The worst omens were confirmed when the German needed the help of a wheelchair to leave the track. The doctors treated the German's foot in the locker room, which however confirmed his abandonment by reappearing on crutches on the track.

Zverev, resigned, greeted the chair umpire and then hugged Nadal, while the stands honored him with warm applause. "It is hard to see him like this, I am sad for him, he has played a great tournament, he has fought to win a Grand Slam and he will not be able to do it for now. I am very sorry," he said of the misfortune of his opponent Nadal, who will seek his fourteenth title of Roland Garros in the final against the winner of the duel between Casper Ruud and Marin Cilic.