Alexander Zverev vs Rafael Nadal Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP French Open

Prediction published on 27/05/2024, 08:15  by Steve Ashfield in ATP French Open Predictions

A match worthy of a final takes place in the first round at Roland Garros. Fourth seeded Alexander Zverev takes on unseeded Rafael Nadal who has won this title 14 times. The winner faces unseeded opposition in round two (the last 64), either David Goffin or Giovanni  Mpetshi Perricard. Nadal is at 275th in the live rankings and  has spoken about retiring at the end of this season but might carry on. He's only been able to play a handful of tournaments this year due to injury. All but one have been played on clay but the best result he's had was reaching the last 16 in Madrid. It's bound to be an emotional occasion for Nadal who has achieved more on this surface than any other player. He leads Zverev 7-3 in previous meetings and has won all but one of their six meetings on clay. 

Alexander Zverev lost to Nadal in their only match played at Roland Garros. That was the semi-final in 2022 when the German had to retire due to injury. He's the world number four and only Jannik Sinner has earned more ranking points than him this year. Zverev has made it to the last four at Roland Garros in the past three times he's played this Grand Slam tournament and also reached two other quarter-finals. He's been consistent this year on both hard courts and clay. On this surface he recently won the Italian Open and got to the last eight in Munich. We tip Zverev to win this match and  possibly end Nadal's amazing career in the French Open, though he is likely to return to Roland Garros for the Summer Olympics.