After making his 14th French Open championship match on Friday, Rafael Nadal declared he would “prefer to lose Sunday’s final” in return for a new left foot.
After Alexander Zverev was forced to withdraw from their last-four match due to an ankle injury, Nadal advanced to the final. Nadal, the 13-time winner, will go for a record-extending 22nd Grand Slam championship on Sunday.
Still, he has stated throughout Roland Garros that any match may be the last of his illustrious career due to a persistent left foot problem.
“I’d much rather lose the final than win it,” Nadal, who turned 36 on Friday, remarked.
“My viewpoint is unchanged. I’d be happy in my everyday life if I had a new foot.
“Winning is great and gives you an adrenaline rush, but it’s just temporary; you still have to live.”
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“I have a long life ahead of me, and I want to do sports with my friends in the future. Any distinction pales in comparison to my joy. “He was adamant.
On Sunday, Nadal will meet Casper Ruud in the final.
Meanwhile, when Zverev’s injury caused him to withdraw from the semi-final, Nadal claimed it was only “normal” for him to feel sorrow for him.
German world number three weeps. After a tumble late in the second set that left him writhing and screaming in pain, Zverev had to leave the court in a wheelchair.
The two men exchanged a heartfelt hug as he limped back onto Court Philippe Chatrier on crutches to forfeit the match.
“If you’re human, you feel bad for a coworker,” Nadal remarked.
Zverev was down 7-6 (10/8), 6-6 after more than three hours of play at the moment of the horrific injury.
“It’s a difficult subject to broach. I hope he isn’t seriously hurt and that his leg isn’t fractured, “Nadal said. “I was there with him for the ultra-sound.”
With 15,000 fans watching, the match was played beneath the dome of Court Philippe Chatrier, which created oppressive, humid conditions.
On the other hand, Nadal said that the court was in good condition.
“It was a freak accident; it was simply a bad break.”
As Zverev sought to become the first German man to reach the final since Michael Stich in 1996, Nadal praised his effort.
“It was a grueling contest. He played seriously, and I know how much a Grand Slam meant to him.
“For me, the circumstances were not great. I had a lot of survival to do. The first set was a miracle, but I was on the verge of giving up.”
