Rafael Nadal would have defeated Zverev with level

Rafael Nadal’s performance during his French Open defeat by Alexander Zverev on Monday was strong enough to have secured a victory against the vast majority of players in the draw, according to former Roland Garros champion Mats Wilander. Despite losing in straight sets to the fourth-seeded German, who became only the third player to defeat the 14-time champion on the Parisian clay, Nadal demonstrated flashes of his legendary form.

Nadal, 37, missed nearly all of 2023 due to injuries and his match against Zverev, 27, might have been his last at the tournament he has dominated for almost two decades. Nonetheless, Nadal has openly expressed his ambition to return to Roland Garros for this year’s Paris Olympics, offering hope to his many fans that his career might continue a little longer.

Wilander remarked on the exciting prospect of Nadal competing in the Olympics. “The Olympics are huge and for him to have the chance to play here on Philippe Chatrier is amazing and could be an unbelievable end to his career,” Wilander told Eurosport. “I think he beats 90% of the draw today. There are only a few guys that would beat him playing this well. And Zverev was the worst opponent possible in the first round, worse than playing (Novak) Djokovic, worse than playing (Carlos) Alcaraz.”

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Wilander also noted that the closed roof on Philippe Chatrier for the match worked against Nadal. “The circumstances, it’s indoor, cold outside, the ball doesn’t travel. So I think all that, and still being so close it’s all positive for Rafa and with that passion, why not. He knows how to win big matches on this court,” the Swede said.

Alex Corretja, the former world number two, observed a shift in Nadal’s mindset. “I spoke to him a couple of months ago and he was sure he wouldn’t be back (at the French Open),” Corretja told Eurosport. “But then I spoke to him a week ago, and he said to me it’s the first time I’ve been practising here at Roland Garros that I feel no pain. He said he felt so good on the court and that his tennis is growing and doesn’t see any reason why he can’t come back at least one more time.

“But he also said, it depends how I play. If I play awful against Zverev, maybe I won’t come back. But the way he played, I believe he will think why not come back.”

Nadal’s future at Roland Garros remains uncertain, but his performance against Zverev, despite the loss, suggests that he still has the potential to compete at a high level. His determination to possibly return for the Paris Olympics adds an exciting dimension to his storied career, and fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see what the next chapter holds for the tennis legend.