The Spaniard reaches his fourteenth final at Roland Garros due to the fall of German tennis player
The three-hour battle between Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev ended in the worst possible way, with the German falling, hurting his ankle and forcing him to leave Paris in a wheelchair. A very sad end to what was one of the big games of the tournament, in which Nadal dominated by a very small margin. When Zverev left the field in tears and aided by medical aid, Nadal was leading 7-6 (8) and 6-6, but there was no epic ending, just an unfortunate fall.
The Spaniard thus reaches his fourteenth final in Paris, all won so far, and is now waiting for the winner of the duel between Casper Ruud and Marin Cilic.
Zverev, on crutches, appeared after ten minutes of medical attention, to say goodbye to Nadal, greet the chair umpire and conclude the tournament. Until that autumn, at the gates of the last tiebreak, the meeting lived up to all expectations. Three hours of battle and not even two sets were completed. The duel was brutal ups and downs, like a roller coaster, with continuous alternatives and with very little efficiency in serving.
The German struck first and broke Nadal’s first serve. A blow to the chin for the Spaniard, who recovered and evened the game, put it 5-4 in favor and enjoyed three set points. All deactivated by the German serve and backhand, sharper than ever. Zverev was at a very high level, used to always giving with the ‘Big Three’ in these cases. But this time he wanted the surprise, to topple a Nadal who had beaten him four times on clay so far. The tiebreak was a wake-up call. It went 6-2 and Brushed grabbed the first set.
He suffered an unbelievable disaster. He missed four set points, one of which was unlikely in the net. He couldn’t believe it and the opportunities came for Nadal, crouching in the trench, with the rifle ready for Zverev to lower his guard. He had two other set points, won by the German in endless rallies, up to sixth overall, the most complicated. Impossible service from Zverev, dead rest in the middle of the lane and Zverev’s axe. Nadal, glued to the wall, connected a passing shot to the line. kit.
Radical blow to the game, which turned out in favor of the Spaniards. But the verdict was missing. The alternatives to the serve followed one another, erratic with the two players. Nadal, under 50% of the first, Zverev, without reaching 70% and with double faults as the flag. The Spaniard lost his serve four times – the first time in history that he lost his serve so many times in a set -, Zverev four more times. Especially the last one, when the one from Hamburg delivered the set. That was when the game script broke.
Heading into the three hours, at intervals of more than 40 strokes, Nadal placed a right hand in the center of the field that caught Zverev off the foot. The German went to the ground. Her ankle was sprained. Covered in dirt, he couldn’t get up. He was seen sobbing and both Nadal and the tournament doctors approached. His body language warned that he could go no further. When the wheelchair entered the track, the worst fears were confirmed. Zverev, between the chair and the assists, couldn’t get out on his own foot. He leaned on the shoulder of one of the doctors and signed his farewell. Not officially, as he went through changing rooms first, but almost.
After about ten minutes in Philippe Chatrier’s back room, Zverev returned to the track, on crutches, shook hands with the chair umpire and hugged Nadal. The ankle couldn’t take it anymore. Nadal went through withdrawal to his fourteenth final at Roland Garros, the previous thirteen fell on his side. This Sunday it is against an unknown opponent in the title match in the French capital. Or the Norwegian Casper Ruud or the Croatian Marin Cilic. He has never faced Ruud, he has beaten Cilic seven times and lost only twice.
Source: La Verdad
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