Nadal reaches 14th French Open final as Zverev leaves court in wheelchair
Rafael Nadal reached his 14th French Open final on Friday when Alexander Zverev was forced to quit their last-four clash after suffering a sickening right ankle injury on a day of drama at Roland Garros.
On Sunday, Nadal will play in his 30th Grand Slam final when he tackles Casper Ruud, the first Norwegian man to make a championship match at the majors after beating Marin Cilic 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2.
Nadal was 7-6 (10/8), 6-6 ahead when Zverev was forced to quit while Ruud saw off Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in his semifinal which was held up when an environmental protester ran onto the court and tied herself to the net.
Zverev turned his ankle as he chased down the ball in front of the players’ boxes on Court Philippe Chatrier where his shocked team and family were sitting.
As his piercing screams of pain echoed around the 15 000-seater court, a tearful Zverev was taken off the court in a wheelchair as a concerned Nadal looked on.
Minutes later, the 25-year-old returned on crutches and conceded the match, with Nadal embracing his heartbroken opponent.
“If you are human, you feel sorry for a colleague,” said Nadal.
“I hope that he’s not too badly injured, I hope it’s not broken,” said Nadal. “I was with him when he was having the ultra-sound.”
The match was played under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, creating heavy humid conditions with 15 000 spectators looking on.
However, Nadal said the court was not in a bad shape.
“It was an accident, it was just an unlucky moment.”
Nadal hailed Zverev’s performance as the German attempted to become the first German man to make the final since Michael Stich in 1996.
“It was a very tough match. He was playing amazing and I know how much it means to him to win a Grand Slam.”
“The conditions were not ideal for me. I had to do a lot of surviving. The first set was a miracle but I was fighting.”
