Rafael Nadal says his French Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev will be a 'big challenge'

Published 02/06/2022 at 17:45 GMT

Rafael Nadal might have beaten long-time rival Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals, but the Spaniard is just as wary of facing Alexander Zverev in the last four on Friday. Nadal says the German is "one of the best players in the world without a doubt" and has "great things" in his game. Watch the French Open live on Eurosport and discovery+.

'He beat Alcaraz because he did things well' - Nadal on Zverev and French Open semi-final

Rafael Nadal says he will need to summon all his determination and focus to overcome Alexander Zverev in the French Open semi-finals.

Nadal climbed what might have felt like the biggest summit of his Roland-Garros 2022 in the quarter-finals by beating great rival Novak Djokovic, but there seems no chance of the Spaniard easing off ahead of his last-four clash against the 25-year-old German.

The winner of that encounter will face either Casper Ruud or Marin Cilic in Sunday's final.

ATP Madrid

Swiatek, Kyrgios see no issue with Nadal shirt request as Lehecka says it's 'kind of weird'

4 hours ago

Speaking following his Thursday practice session, Nadal said: "The first thing I need to do is play very, very well.

"He’s [Zverev] a great player, one of the best in the world without a doubt and he has a lot of great things so the only way to keep having chances to go through is to play with the right determination from the beginning to the end and just be focused all the time.

"I’m excited to be in the semi-final. I know I had a good victory in the quarter-final but I have another big challenge coming.

"Zverev is playing great and he had a good clay-court season. He beat [Carlos] Alcaraz because he did a lot of things well so I need to play my 100% again."

Speculation has been rife that this year could prove to be Nadal's final appearance at Roland-Garros following uncertainty around the Spaniard's chronic foot condition.

But Nadal told Spanish outlet TVE something to the contrary on the eve of his meeting with Zverev.

"I am confident and I trust I can return [to Roland-Garros]," the 35-year-old said.

"I accept things as they come, I have no intention of making it seem like a farewell.

"We keep working to find a solution to my foot injury. My intention is to return to Roland-Garros next year."

- - -

Watch the French Open live on Eurosport and discovery+.

ATP Madrid