Exclusive: Alex Zverev says he could have beaten Rafa Nadal if not for injury - ‘I don't want to sound arrogant’
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Updated 13/04/2023 at 07:30 GMT
Alexander Zverev believes he could have beaten Rafael Nadal at last year's French Open had he not injured his ankle. Speaking exclusively to Eurosport, Zverev also spoke about his injury recovery, what makes Nadal and Roger Federer so different, and his upcoming match against Alexander Bublik at the Monte Carlo Masters. Stream the French Open on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.
Heartbreaking moment Zverev helped away in wheelchair as Nadal consoles him after injury
Alexander Zverev believes he could have beaten Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of last year's French Open had he not been injured, he has exclusively told Eurosport.
Last June, Nadal progressed to the final after Zverev was forced to retire at the end of the second set of their semi-final owing to an ankle injury. The Spaniard was leading 7-6(8) 6-6 at the time.
Nadal went on to win the tournament, beating Casper Ruud in the final 6-3 6-3 6-0.
When asked whether he thought he would have won the semi-final had he been able to continue, Zverev confirmed he thought he could.
"For some reason I did. I don't want to sound arrogant," he said.
"Rafa is obviously the best player to ever play on that surface so you never know what happens. You never know what happens in that match as well. If I don't get injured, of course I [could have lost] that match. Of course, he can go on to win his 14th Grand Slam.
"But I felt like I was playing my best tennis that I've ever played on that surface. So for some reason, I did feel like I could at least compete with him, which I was doing.
"The outcome of the match obviously, always depends on little factors as well. But I did feel like that could have been the week for me."
Zverev also spoke about how different players come back from injury. "Rafa and Roger [Federer] are different," he said.
"They come back from injury and they start winning tournaments immediately. I don't know how they do that. But they've been doing it for 20 years now.
"I needed time but I think also my injury was maybe a little bit different. I was not able to walk really for two months. You have to learn your movements again, you have to learn how to walk again, you have to learn how to run again.
"These are all factors that may play a little bit of a part in tennis. But you can't compare Rafa to me because Rafa comes back and starts winning and not only winning against everyone but beating them 6-0 6-1 6-2."
Zverev will take on Alexander Bublik in the first round at the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday, and the German believes he will need to be at his best.
"I have to be ready," he said. "I think against him especially you have to be ready to play at your best and you also have to be physically ready to run.
"You never know what you're quite going to get. So at the end of the day, I'm just looking forward to being back and playing and hopefully playing some good matches here."
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Stream the 2023 French Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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