Zverev broke Nadal's serve in the opening game of the match, with Nadal struggling on the slower conditions in humid conditions under the Chatrier roof on a rainy Paris afternoon. The 21-time Grand Slam champion walked out to the match amid huge applause, before the crowd serenaded him with a rendition of 'Joyeux Anniversaire' - 'Happy Birthday' in French. Nadal, who continues to battle a chronic foot injury, was far from his best in the opening set but showed his brilliance in the crucial moments to help win it. The unexpected ending brought an end to a scrappy match that had already lasted three hours and 13 minutes without the second set being concluded. View more on twitter Long scrap cut short by Zverev's misfortune Medics quickly arrived and it seemed obvious he would not be able to continue once the wheelchair was called for.Ī sombre mood hung in the air as the 15,000 crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier waited for news and it came when Zverev returned on crutches to shake hands with umpire Renaud Lichtenstein.Īlmost the entire stadium stood up to give Zverev a thunderous round of applause, the player responding by lifting one of his crutches into the air. The seriousness of the situation was immediately clear, with Zverev screaming and signalling for help as he lay on the ground. Instead his ambitions of becoming a Grand Slam champion - at least now - were ended in the cruellest manner. In a set full of suspense, if not quality, he was about to have the opportunity to level in another tie-break. The 25-year-old German had lost the first set after being unable to take any of four set points from a 6-2 lead in the tie-break.Īfter missing the chance to serve out the second set, producing three double faults at 5-3, Zverev showed resilience to regroup. Zverev's fall was a dramatic and heartbreaking end to a semi-final battle that had been intriguing if not compelling. On his 36th birthday, Nadal has become the second oldest men's singles finalist in French Open history behind American Bill Tilden, who was 37 when he was runner-up in 1930. "I was in a small room with Sascha and to see him crying was a tough moment." For me to be in the final of Roland Garros is a dream but at the same time to finish that way is not nice. "It is difficult to say a lot of things in this situation. I know how much he is fighting for a Grand Slam - he will win more than one. "He was playing an unbelievable tournament. "It is very tough and I feel very sad for him," said 13-time champion Nadal. Nadal will play Casper Ruud in Sunday's final after the Norwegian beat Marin Cilic in Friday's second semi-final.Īfter Zverev's injury a concerned Nadal went round to check on his opponent as a medic raced on to the court to help the German.Īfter a short break, Zverev returned on crutches and was given a warm hug by Spain's Nadal before the crowd rose in a standing ovation. Fifth seed Nadal was leading 7-6 (10-8) 6-6 when Zverev left the court.
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