EMOTIONAL SCENES as Rafael Nadal eliminated by Alexander Zverev 🥹 | French Open 2024 🇫🇷

Sasha Zverev becomes just the third man to beat Nadal at the French Open. He gave of his all Nadal. It was wonderful that he came here to compete at all with what he's been through. They embrace for the moment. Will it be his last? Many will be hoping, please not. But thank you so much for everything. He's going to be very dangerous, Zverev, for the rest of this tournament. That's for sure. Sure is, Chris. That was quite something and what an absolute privilege. And the applause has respect. It has sympathy in it as well, almost, of what they may be witnessing subdued in the celebrations, Zverev, out of total respect as well. Are these farewell pictures? Emily Mauresmo may be asking if he would like to speak as well. If he can, I'm sure he's very emotional too. All of us, such a great champion. If I will stay with us, I will speak a little bit after Sasha. But Sasha, a few words with you. First of all, the camera will be here. My question is, before I ask you the question, first of all, congratulations. That was a great performance from your part today. Sasha, this is something special to prepare that match. How did you handle, how did you prepare that match and how did you manage the emotions during that match? To be honest, I don't know what to say. First of all, thank you, Rafa, from all of the tennis world. It's such a great honor. I've watched Rafa play all my childhood and I was lucky enough to play Rafa when I became professional. I was lucky enough to play him two times on this beautiful court. I don't know what to say today. It's not my moment, it's Rafa's moment. Thank you. I'm going to say a word because they gave you so much energy today when you came in to this crowd also, but the viewers all over the world, millions to watch you today. What can you say to them? Thank you. It's incredible today. It's difficult for me to talk. I don't know if it's going to be the last time that I'm going to be here in front of all of you. Honestly, I am not 100% sure, but if it's last time, I enjoy it. The crowd have been amazing during the whole week of preparation and today, the feelings that I have today are difficult to describe in words, but for me, it's so special to feel the love of the people the way that I felt in the place that I love the most. This was not the best match to start a tournament like this, but you have so many great memories here. What would you remind from that moment, that tournament here at Roland-Garros? Because I know you didn't want to come and say, I'm going to leave this tournament. I want to keep a lot of things in mind, right? Well, I have to congratulate Sasha for this great match and last week's victory in Rome and wish you all the best for the rest of the tournament. 2022, I know, has been a super tough moment for you, so you deserve more. Many congratulations and all the best. Yes, for me, as I said before, I have been going through a very tough two years in terms of injuries. I went all through all this process with the dream to be back here in Roland-Garros. It's true that the first round hasn't been the ideal one, so I just have to say that I needed something else. I was competitive, I had my chances, but it was not enough against a great player like Sasha. For me, it's difficult to say what's going on in the future. Probably, it's a big percentage that I will not be back playing here in Roland-Garros, but I can't say 100%. No, I enjoy a lot playing here. I am traveling with the family and I am having fun and the body is feeling a little bit better now than two months ago. So, I mean, maybe in two months, I say it's enough. No, I can't give anything else, but it's something that I don't feel yet. I have some goals in front. I hope to be back on this court for the Olympics. That motivates me. That's a chance and I really hope to be well prepared. No, the amount of feelings that I had on this amazing court during all my tennis career is just unbelievable. No, I never could imagine when I was a kid that I will be here with almost 28, 38 years old. I would love 28. With all the success that I had here, winning so many times, something that I never could dream about. It has been a very beautiful process. All the memories every single year have been different, but not less special than the other. What makes me feel so special is everything. All the people who are in Roland-Garros behind the scenes that are helping me since the first time that I came here have been unforgettable. All the support, the support of all my people there, family, team, friends, everybody who in some moment of my life, so just I can't thank enough all of them. And last thing, all the people. Yeah, the feelings that you made me feel here are just unforgettable. No, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart and I really hope to see you again, but I don't know. Merci beaucoup. Merci. That perspective, how well he did. A very special man and a very special player.