French Open 2022: Alexander Zverev forced to retire after rolling his ankle

In a semi-final that was shaping up to be quite the contest, Alexander Zverev was giving Rafael Nadal as good as he got. After a first set that stretched to 92 minutes, the second had all the makings of a similarly drawn-out contest.

The German began strongly, racing to a 3-1 lead in the first set. Nadal clawed back the advantage, forcing parity against the run of play. A wildly fluctuating tie-break followed. After 20 minutes of back and forth, it finally went Nadal’s way when he speared a backhand down the line.

Undeterred Zverev returned with a fury in the second, breaking Nadal’s serve midway through the set. But Nadal hit back with a break of his own! With tension mounting with each passing game, a full house at Phillipe Chatrier was expecting a marathon semi-final. Yet deep into the set, the match ground to a sudden halt. With Rafa serving to stretch the second to a tie-break, Zverev mishit a forehand wide, handing the Spaniard a crucial hold. However, the damage would be more permanent!

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Serving at 40-30, Nadal sent back a tight return deep into the Zverev baseline. The German, desperate to push Rafa on his serve, would aim for a passing shot that veered wide. Almost immediately, he would crumple to the floor, yelping in pain. With howls ringing across the centre court, the mood quickly shifted.

Surrounded by match officials and a visibly concerned Nadal, Zverev was helped onto a wheelchair. In what seemed a bad case of a rolled ankle, the German’s semi-final was cut short just as the match was deliciously poised. Locked at 6-6 in the second set, the German would return in crutches to the warmth and adulation of all present.

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Nadal progresses to a 14th French Open final, albeit under unforeseen circumstances. Although not one to wish ill on his opponents, expect Rafa to value the extra rest before Sunday’s final.