Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev, French Open 2022 Semi-Finals Highlights: Zverev retires hurt; Nadal reaches 14th French Open final

Rafael Nadal reached his 14th French Open final on Friday after Alexander Zverev was forced to quit their semi-final after suffering a horror right ankle injury. Zverev had to leave the court in a wheelchair after turning his ankle trailing 7-6 (10/8), 6-6 after more than three hours of play. After screaming in anguish, a tearful Zverev was helped from the court by medics. Minutes later, the 25-year-old returned to the court on crutches and conceded the match.

'..a very tough moment'

Zverev retires injured from French Open semi-final against Nadal

German third seed Alexander Zverev retired injured from his French Open semi-final against 13-time champion Rafael Nadal after rolling his right ankle badly on Friday. Zverev twisted his ankle as he tried to retrieve a shot in the 12th game of the second set and screamed in pain before being taken off the court Philippe Chatrier in a wheelchair. After several minutes off court, he returned to the Philippe Chatrier arena on crutches to concede the match. He was trailing Nadal 7-6(8), 6-6 when the match ended abruptly.

Get well soon, Zverev!

Heart-breaking end to the contest

It's all over! Alexander Zverev retires hurt; Rafael Nadal reaches 14th French Open final

Set 2 | Nadal holds serve, makes it 6-6 vs Zverev. Another tie-breaker coming up

* Alexander Zverev is shouting in agony after falling down while playing a shot. Looks like he has hurt his ankle. Zverev is taken out of the playing arena on a wheelchair.

Set 2 | Zverev holds serve, leads Nadal 6-5

Like the previous game, Rafael Nadal raced to 30-0 in quick time with a couple of good winners on Alexander Zverev's serve. But the German came up with a brilliant net play and a backhand on-the-line winner gave him the game point. It's not over yet!

Set 2 | Nadal holds serve, makes it 5-5 vs Zverev

Finally! Rafael Nadal held his service game for the first time in the second set. Nadal gave away two easy points to Alexander Zverev to trail 0-30 in the game, but came up with a good net play before Zverev made another unforced error to level the score 30-30. Nadal then produced a good serve and Zverev hit an overhead shot long to give away the game to the Spaniard.

Set 2 | Nadal breaks back, makes it 4-5 vs Zverev

It's definitely a set of break points. Alexander Zverev came up with a horrendous game, making three double faults in it. And he gave away the advantage of holding a game in the set again to Rafael Nadal. Nadal remained in the set after winning his fourth break game.

Set 2 | Zverev breaks Nadal again, leads 5-3

Rafael Nadal lost another service game in the set, his fourth of the second set. Alexander Zverev won a couple of net points and Nadal uncharacteristically missed an overhead shot as the Spaniard trail 3-5 in the set.

Set 2 | Nadal breaks back, 3-4 vs Zverev

Intelligent play from Rafael Nadal to break Alexander Zverev for the third time in the second set. Nadal came up with stunning net play and drop shots to remain in the set. Zverev ran all around for points in it -- to the baseline and back to the net to face the drop shots, but failed to counter the guile of Nadal. Game On!

Set 2 | Zverev breaks Nadal again, leads 4-2

Rafael Nadal is yet to hold his service game in the second set, losing three on the trot. The Spaniard was leading 40-15, but Alexander Zverev came up with two good returns to make it 40-all. Zverev then came up with a backhand winner to take the breakpoint, but Nadal saved it with a forehand winner. Nadal though conceded another breakpoint and Zverev produced another stunning forehand winner to win the game.

Set 2 | Zverev holds serve, leads 3-2 vs Nadal

True to the script of the second set, Rafael Nadal was with a breakpoint at 40-30 on Alexander Zverev's serve. But the German came up with a backhand cross-court winner to make it 40-all. Zverev then produced a big serve to take the advantage, but he hit the net twice to give away the advantage twice. Zverev came up with an ace to get his third advantage point and this time he made sure to seal the game. First service hold of the second set.

Set 2 | Zverev breaks back, makes it 2-2 vs Nadal

Another service game broke in the second set. Rafael Nadal failed to hold his serves in back-to-back games to give away the advantage in the set. Nadal's forehand is producing unforced errors in alarming frequency right now. Both Nadal and Zverev are playing with a much lesser intensity after a gruesome first set at the moment.

Set 2 | Nadal breaks Zverev again, leads 2-1

Both Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev are yet to hold their serves so far in the second set. Nadal won the longest rally of the contest to seal the third game and took a 2-1 lead in Set 2. Zverev hit his backhand shot long to give Nadal the first breakpoint of the game, but came up with a big serve to make it 40-all. A net point gave Nadal another breakpoint, before Zverev hit another backhand shot long after a very long rally.

Set 2 | Zverev breaks back immediately. It's 1-1 vs Nadal

After losing six straight points in the second set, Alexander Zverev won a point to make it 15-30 on Rafael Nadal's serves. Nadal was comfortably placed at 40-15, before two back-to-back unforced errors made it 40-40. Zverev then won a net play to break Nadal and made it 1-1 in the second set.

Set 2 | Nadal breaks Zverev early, leads 1-0

Looks like Alexander Zverev is yet to come out of the tie-break shocker. The German lost the first game of the second set to nil. Similar to the first game of the first set, the serve is broken. It's advantage Nadal at the moment.