There is a statue of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, constructed not from stone but shards of steel. While most sculptures appear static this is a kaleidoscope of movement. Nadal is depicted with left leg in the air, left arm wrapped around his body in a forehand, and mouth open in that primal snarl of effort.
That is how he will be remembered, not as the man who was beaten in straight sets by Alexander Zverev on Philippe Chatrier. Here was a titan brought down to the level of mortals.
If this is to be the 37-year-old’s last French Open - he once more demurred on the point on Monday night - he will finish with 14 titles and a 112-4 record.
There were flickers of magic and plenty of fight. It was comfortably Nadal’s best performance this year and there was enough to suggest he could have carved out a deep run in Paris, given a kinder draw.
But Zverev is younger, fitter and more powerful and sometimes sport is as simple as that. The German No4 seed joins Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic as the only men to have beaten Nadal at the French Open.
Rafael Nadal's French Open swansong came to an early end after his first-round knockout
Nadal went down in straight sets to Alexander Zverev in what may be his final year on tour
Nadal was philosophical after the match. ‘I showed, to myself, first of all, that I was ready for more than what I did, that is, losing in the first round,’ said the Spaniard.
‘But that's how it is, no? When you are not seeded, you play against a player who is one of the best in the world.
‘I was ready to build my game and confidence day by day. But I never had those days of competition, because I faced a very tough opponent.
‘I played a good level, compared to the way I was playing the weeks before. Of course disappointed for losing, but happy that I finished healthy and had a tough battle.
‘If it's the last time I played here, I am in peace with myself. The last two years I have gone through the toughest process in my career with the dream to come back here. At least I did. I lost, but that's part of the business.’
Nadal did not sound like a man who was ready to retire and we should not even rule out a return to the French Open next year if his body holds up.
‘I cannot tell you if I will be (playing) in one month and a half,’ he said. ‘My body has been a jungle for two years: I wake up one day and I found a snake biting me; another day a tiger. But the dynamic is positive the last few weeks.
‘It's about not having the feeling in one year that I didn't give myself a chance, a real chance, because immediately that I started to become a little bit more healthy, I stop.’
Zverev inflicted only Nadal's fourth French Open defeat and his first ever in the first round
The legendary Spaniard fought valiantly under the closed roof on Court Philippe Chatrier
This was perhaps the most anticipated first-round match in tennis history, as evidenced by those in attendance. Nadal was watched from the stands by his greatest rival Novak Djokovic, the heir to his Spanish throne Carlos Alcaraz and his successor as the most dominant player at Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek.
This was an emotionally significant match for Zverev, too. It was here against Nadal in the 2022 semi-finals when he suffered a horrific ankle injury. The 27-year-old will feel like this win finally laid those ghosts to rest.
Zverev looked a little cowed at times by the febrile atmosphere. He was clumsy around the net and wasteful of opportunities but he landed 77 per cent of his first serves and struck 44 winners.
Considering the occasion, it was a performance worthy of ending the greatest run in tennis history.
If this is to be his last French Open, what a legacy Nadal leaves. He has dominated this corner of Paris’s 16th arrondissem*nt in a manner that is without parallel – not just in tennis but in any sport. His win rate at the French Open is 96.6 per cent.
He fought Zverev, the No 4 seed, after dropping down the rankings due to infrequent play
All being well, Nadal will be back on the same court for the Olympics later this summer
He arrived as a 19-year-old in 2005 and won the title on debut. The hair was longer, the shorts baggier and the sleeves non-existent. He was the kid who could retrieve any ball. But what has taken him from greatness to immortality is his insatiable greed for improvement.
At the start of his career his serve was little more than a way to get the point started but he reforged it into a powerful weapon. He became more aggressive, and turned himself into perhaps the best volleyer in the world.
All being well, Nadal will be back on this court for the Olympics, playing the singles and the doubles, with Alcaraz.
‘I don’t know if it’s the last time I will be here,’ Nadal told his adoring fans after the match. ‘It’s so special to feel the love of the people in the place that I love the most.
‘The feelings you have made me feel are unforgettable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
