Exclusive: Nadal admits Zverev tie might be ‘a complete disaster’

Rafael Nadal has said that he is fully aware that his French Open first-round clash with Alexander Zverev could be “a complete disaster”, but he is determined to continue to compete at the highest level.

The Spaniard, who plays the German No. 4 seed on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Monday, has been riddled with injury in 2023 and for much of the 2024 season, missing the Australian Open at the beginning of the year.

He returned to action on his favourite surface – clay – playing at the Barcelona and Madrid Masters before also competing in Rome.

He was beaten in the second round in Barcelona by Alex de Minaur, but he exacted revenge on the Australian in Madrid, before being knocked out in the last 16 by Jiri Lehecka.

He was then beaten comfortably by Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of the Rome Open.

Now, Nadal, who holds a record 14 Roland-Garros titles, has exclusively told Eurosport that if he didn’t have “minimum hope” of being competitive, he “wouldn’t be here”.

“Somehow there’s this fact that I haven’t played at a high level for different reasons,” Nadal explained.

“First, because, most of the time, I hadn’t played, and secondly, when I’ve been playing again, I’ve been playing with a lot of limitations. I’ve been training for a week with few limitations.

“It’s totally insufficient to face a match like this one in the first round, but it’s true that it’s a place I know very well. A place that has given me unforgettable moments where some things happen that were difficult to imagine, without a doubt. In the end, winning 14 times here is something unimaginable.

“If I didn’t have a minimum of hope to be competitive and be able to play, I wouldn’t be here. I’m very conscious and aware that I accept the match might be a complete disaster. It’s something in my head to play and be competitive. It’ll be very difficult. What I know is more or less how he’s going to be. What I don’t know is how I’m going to react.”

Nadal also asserted that he was feeling in much better physical shape ahead of his clash with Zverev.

“I know I’m feeling better in all senses, but to manage all these improvements and put them into practice in a match that is going to demand a lot from the first day. I know that I’m better in training, and I know that when you’re better at it at least there are more options for things to get better at in matches.

“This is the first week since I’ve been playing tennis again that I’ve been thinking about the ball and the opponent and my tennis, and not the other things that were limiting for me. That is a very important step forward.”

Speaking to his compatriot and Eurosport expert Alex Corretja, the 22-time Grand Slam champion stressed the importance of family and “training to the death”.

“The fact that I have my family by my side helps in every way,” Nadal said.

“I live things naturally and try to enjoy it; but I don’t come to training just to enjoy it. I come to play well, because if I don’t take it like that, it’s going to be impossible. When I train, I train at 100% and think about what I have to do to be competitive and win.

“Afterwards, when things are over, I’ll take it with more perspective and more calmly. When I’m here, I train to the death to give myself options.”