Alexander Zverev knocks out 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal
What's the story
Alexander Zverev scripted history at the Philippe-Chatrier Court after beating Spanish ace Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
The German star claimed a 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory in the first round to knock out Nadal.
Notably, Zverev has become only the third man to beat Nadal at Roland Garros.
The latter, who owns 14 Roland Garros titles, returned to Paris after batting successive injuries.
Stats
Here are the match stats
Zverev won a total of 112 points and 44 winners throughout the match. He served eight aces compared to Zverev's two.
The German had a win percentage of 58 and 48 in the first and second serves, respectively. Nadal won 19 of his 21 net points.
Both Nadal and Zverev recorded 30 unforced errors. They registered three double-faults each.
Nadal
Third man to beat Nadal at French Open
Before this match, Nadal had only lost to Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic at the French Open.
Soderling defeated him in the fourth round in 2009, while Djokovic remains the only player to defeat Nadal twice in the tournament (quarter-finals, 2015 and semi-finals, 2021).
Between 2015 and 2021, Nadal was unbeaten in as many as 35 matches at the French Open.
Legacy
Fourth Roland Garros defeat for Nadal
Nadal now has a win-loss record of 112-4 at Roland Garros. He has been knocked out for the first time before the fourth round.
Notably, the Spaniard also holds the record for winning 39 consecutive French Open matches.
It is worth noting that Nadal won four French Open titles without losing a set (2008, 2010, 2017, and 2020), the most for a player.
Records
14-time French Open winner
Nearly two decades after winning his maiden Grand Slam title, Nadal owns a total of 14 French Open honors (2005-2008, 2010-2014, 2017-2020, and 2022).
The Spaniard has won eight more Roland Garros titles than Bjorn Borg, who owns six titles (second-most).
Nadal also holds the record for winning most titles at a Grand Slam and on a single surface (clay).
Records
Unwanted numbers for Nadal
As per Opta, this was only the second instance of Nadal trailing by two sets to 0 at the French Open, after the quarter-finals in 2015, whre he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Notably, Nadal won nine of his previous 11 matches at the French Open after having lost the first set.
Zverev
Zverev coming off title in Rome
As mentioned, Zverev became the third player to claim a French Open win over Nadal, who has faced 74 different opponents at this event.
Notably, the German is coming off a title-winning run at Rome Masters. Earlier this year, he lost the Australian Open semi-final to Daniil Medvedev.
Zverev is now 29-9 on the ATP Tour in 2024.