The 2024 French Open draw gave some thrilling first-round clashes. Among them was the match between Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev, which is currently underway. In what could be Nadal’s final appearance at the tournament, the tennis world’s eyes are glued to this match. Additionally, some big names were spotted in the stands as the Spaniard sweated it out on the court.

As the match was underway, Carlos Alcaraz was seen taking his seat on court Philippe Chatrier. Two rows ahead of him, Novak Djokovic was already enjoying the clash as Nadal dished out some brilliant groundstrokes.

Additionally, some other sporting superstars were also seen in attendance at the match. Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who recently won the Premier League title, was seen cheering for his compatriot, Nadal.

Subsequently, Iga Swiatek also joined a host of stars and was seen capturing some glimpses of the match on her mobile phone. The Polish tennis superstar is a big fan of Nadal and was seen in attendance in what could be the Spaniard’s farewell match.

Despite many sporting superstars and tennis fans cheering for Nadal, the Spaniard couldn’t make the most of the support he had. He lost a close second set in the tiebreaker to hand Zverev a 2-0 lead. This proved to be crucial in the context of the match as Zverev went on to win the match in straight sets.

Moreover, ahead of his clash against Zverev, many reports emerged that this will be Nadal’s final appearance at the French Open. With age not by his side and injuries taking a toll on his career, retirement is looming for the Spaniard, which he even hinted at earlier this year.

Rafael Nadal: “Going to be my last year”

During an interview with Juanma Castano in COPE’s El Partidazo earlier this year, Nadal was asked about his retirement from tennis. The Spaniard has struggled with injuries lately and didn’t feature consistently on the ATP Tour this year. Moreover, he made a massive revelation which hinted that the ongoing French Open will be his final appearance at the tournament in which he has seen tremendous success.

Nadal revealed, “This is going to be my last year but I don’t confirm it 100%. I will go day by day. I’ll say it before Roland Garros. I give myself a few months of caution. You know that things can happen, so I can’t define things months in advance after a year without competing.” (Translated using Google Translate)

While Nadal has bowed out of the French Open, it remains to be seen if he plays in any of the upcoming tournaments. Have we seen the last of Rafael Nadal on the court? Let us know your views in the comments below.