Rafael Nadal, the 'King of Clay', faced a bittersweet exit at Roland Garros on Monday, falling to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in straight sets. The 14-time champion, whose name has been synonymous with the French Open for nearly two decades, lost 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in a first-round match that felt more like a historic turning point than a routine upset.
Zverev, 27, paid tribute to Nadal post-match: 'Thank you, Rafa, from all of the tennis world… Today is your moment.' The German joined an exclusive club of players to defeat Nadal at the tournament — only Novak Djokovic and Robin Söderling had managed it before.
Nadal, 37, hinted this could be his last Paris appearance: 'If it’s the last time… I am in peace.' Fans worldwide mourned the potential end of an era, as the Spaniard leaves behind a legacy of 112 wins and just 4 losses at Roland Garros.
Despite the loss, Nadal emphasized pride in his comeback journey after injuries: 'I tried everything to be ready… At least I did.' The match drew global attention, with social media flooded with highlights of his legendary career.
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, faced a bittersweet exit at Roland Garros on Monday, falling to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in straight sets. The 14-time champion, whose name has been synonymous with the French Open for nearly two decades, lost 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in a first-round match that felt more like a historic turning point than a routine upset.
The German joined an exclusive club of players to defeat Nadal at the tournament — only Novak Djokovic and Robin Söderling had managed it before.
Fans worldwide mourned the potential end of an era, as the Spaniard leaves behind a legacy of 112 wins and just 4 losses at Roland Garros.
The match drew global attention, with social media flooded with 
highlights of his legendary career.
