Published by Daily dosz.
PARIS: Rafael Nadal acknowledges the challenge ahead as he prepares to face Alexander Zverev in the French Open first round on Monday. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner breezed through his opener.
Second seed Sinner dominated Christopher Eubanks 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 under the new roof on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Though this year’s event was expected to be Nadal’s farewell to Roland Garros, he has not confirmed it will be his last appearance.
Nadal has played only four tournaments since January 2023 due to a hip injury and a muscle tear. This left him unseeded and vulnerable to a tough opening round at a tournament where he has only lost three out of 115 matches.
World number four Zverev enters Paris as a title favorite after winning the Rome Open earlier this month.
“On paper, it’s not the best draw,” Nadal admitted ahead of their match on Court Philippe Chatrier. “I play against one of the toughest opponents possible. He just won a Masters 1000 event. So, what can I do? That’s the draw. I’ll just try to be ready.”
Nadal, who turns 38 next week, has shown glimpses of his best form in the clay-court season but suffered a heavy 6-1, 6-3 loss to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in his last outing in Rome. He holds a 7-3 record over Zverev, their last meeting being the 2022 French Open semi-finals where Zverev left the court in a wheelchair due to an ankle injury.
“I am not anxious. I am focused on trying to play well,” Nadal said. “Maybe I repeat the disaster of Rome. It’s a possibility. But my goal is to play much better and give myself a chance.”
Zverev did not play again in 2022 after his ankle injury but has been climbing the rankings in recent months. The 27-year-old, often seen as a future Grand Slam champion, remains without a major title. Clay is his strongest surface, and he has reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros for the past three years.
The men’s draw appears more open than usual, with doubts about Nadal’s fitness and Novak Djokovic’s shaky start to the year. “I guarantee you Novak didn’t want to play Rafa in the first round. Neither did Alcaraz, Jannik, or myself,” Zverev admitted. “But it is how it is.”
Sinner’s Strong Start
Australian Open champion Sinner began his title bid confidently, despite missing the Rome Open with a hip injury. The Italian star hit 32 winners and broke Eubanks’ serve five times, setting up a second-round meeting with French veteran Richard Gasquet.
“The hip is good, I’m very happy,” said Sinner. “I’m not at 100 percent yet, so we’re building every day.”
Marketa Vondrousova, a former Roland Garros runner-up and reigning Wimbledon champion, cruised past Rebeka Masarova of Spain in straight sets before rain interrupted play in Paris.
Tunisian eighth seed Ons Jabeur also advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over US wildcard Sachia Vickery on Chatrier.
Later on Monday, women’s world number one Iga Swiatek starts her quest for a fourth French Open title against home player Leolia Jeanjean. A win will set up a second-round clash with fellow four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.