Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev, French Open 2022 Semi-Finals Highlights: Zverev retires hurt; Nadal reaches 14th French Open final
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jun 04, 2022, 19:01:29 IST
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Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev, French Open 2022 Semi-Finals Highlights: Zverev retires hurt; Nadal reaches 14th French Open final

Stay updated with Times of India for all live updates of French Open semi finals match between Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev on Times of India. 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.
19:49 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Zverev holds serve, it's 6-6 vs Nadal. It's time for a tie-breaker
Alexander Zverev raced to 40-0 in quick time, riding on three big serves. But an unforced error gave Nadal his first point in the game, before a double fault made it 40-30. But Zverev produced another big serve to win the game and take the first set to a tie-breaker.
19:44 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Nadal leads Zverev 6-5
First 40-all game on Rafael Nadal's serves of the contest. Alexander Zverev got a breakpoint with a brilliant forehand cross-court winner, but Nadal saved it with a good serve. And Nadal produced back-to-back good serves to win the game and kept the lead in the first set. The game also saw Nadal winning a point with a perfect drop shot, his second drop shot point of the evening.
19:35 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Zverev hold his nerves, makes it 5-5 vs Nadal
What a game! Alexander Zverev saved three set points in it, before sealing the game and levelled the score 5-5 in the first set. First a double fault from Zverev made it 40-all, then another double fault gave away an advantage point. In between Nadal had three set points in the game, which was saved by Zverev with three big first serves and a couple of brilliant serves and volleys. Off the fourth advantage point, Zverev played a sliding drop shot to win the game - the longest of the contest so far.
19:19 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Nadal leads Zverev 5-4
For the first time in the contest, Rafael Nadal is in the lead against Alexander Zverev. From 30-30, Nadal came up with two back-to-back on the T serves to seal the game. Zverev failed to connect the first one, and hit the second long. It's advantage Nadal in the set.
19:15 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Nadal breaks Zverev, levels it 4-4
It's all even now. Rafael Nadal broke Alexander Zverev's service game to level the scoreline 4-4 in the first set. Nadal took a 30-15 lead in the game before a serve and volley from Zverev levelled the score. The game went to 40-40, the first of the contest. Zverev then saved a breakpoint to stay in the game but hit the backhand shot long during the second breakpoint to give away the game to Nadal.
19:05 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Confident Nadal makes it 3-4 vs Zverev
Rafael Nadal answered the dominant service game by Alexander Zverev with his own confident play. Nadal too held his serves on nil to make it 3-4 in the first set. Nadal produced two excellent drop shots in the game to counter the volley game from Zverev.
19:02 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Zverev on a roll, leads Nadal 4-2
A dominant service game from Alexander Zverev. The German started with a 211 kmph ace, and followed that up with two superb on-the-line backhand winners to take a 40-0 lead. Another big serve and Zverev sealed the game without conceding a point, the first of the contest for both the players.
18:59 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Nadal makes it 2-3 vs Zverev
First dominant service game from Nadal so far. The Spaniard produced a couple of big serves to take a 40-15 advantage in quick time, before wrapping up the game with another big serve as Zverev hit it long on the return.
18:55 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Zverev holds his serve to make it 3-1 vs Nadal
Again, Alexander Zverev raced to 40-0 with good first serves. Zverev also changed the tactics and came to the net and played a couple of impactful volleys. Rafael Nadal then induced a couple of unforced errors from the German to make it 30-40, but another big serve helped Zverev seal the game.
18:50 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Nadal holds his serve, 1-2 vs Zverev
Rafael Nadal won his first game of the semifinal, holding his second service game. Nadal had to dig deep again to win it as a jumping backhand winner from Zverev gave the German 30-15 advantage in the game. After that Nadal produced two good first serves to open his account in the contest.
18:45 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Zverev holds serve, leads 2-0 vs Nadal
Alexander Zverev doubled his lead soon after by holding his service game. The third seed raced to 40-0 in no time, winning seven points on the trot. Nadal made a fightback and won the next two points to make it 30-40, but another cross-court forehand winner from the German sealed the game.
18:41 (IST) Jun 03
Set 1 | Zverev breaks Nadal in the first game
What a start from third-ranked Alexander Zverev. Rafael Nadal started with the serve and raced to 30-0 in no time, but Zverev fought back with two forehand winners to level it 30-30. An unforced error gave Zverev first break point of the contest and he broke Nadal's serve in the first game itself. 1-0 in favour of the German.
18:36 (IST) Jun 03
Here we go... Nadal starts the proceedings with the serve against Zverev
18:30 (IST) Jun 03
TOSS TIME! Alexander Zverev wins the toss and opts to receive the serve in the first game. The roof will stay shut for the entirety of the game.
18:26 (IST) Jun 03
A big applause from fans as Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev walk out into the middle
18:24 (IST) Jun 03
It's raining at the moment in Paris, and the roof is closed at Philippe-Chatrier
18:23 (IST) Jun 03
Almost time! Nadal and Zverev are coming out to start the contest
18:11 (IST) Jun 03
Action starts soon...
18:01 (IST) Jun 03
Watch: Zverev warming up before the blockbuster semifinal
17:56 (IST) Jun 03
Zverev, 25, is still searching for a maiden Slam title. He is into a second successive French Open semi-final. He defeated teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals but had to save a match point in a five-set win over Argentina's Sebastian Baez in the second round. He has also never defeated Nadal or Djokovic at the majors.