French Open, 1st round, Sunday, 26.05.2024
The current world No. 4 meets the record-breaking champion who was on top two years ago? The French Open in Paris kicks off with an absolute cracker in the first round!
Alexander Zverev meets Rafael Nadal, the very match that captivated tennis fans two years ago! While the German has almost forgotten about the serious injury he suffered in that match, his opponent is not faring quite as well.
The fact is that the Olympic champion will face the Parisian institution, the king of clay, on Sunday. And yet, the former is clearly the favorite. In my Zverev Nadal betting tip, I’ll tell you why you have to be prepared for anything here and why I think the favorite will win both sets!
Imagine traveling to the French Open as the number 4 seed, being one of the top favorites for the title and being able to sit back and relax knowing that you’re going to win: An opponent from the lower ranks probably awaits me in the 1st round.
Alexander Zverev probably did just that and after the draw it was clear: it’s against the number 267 in the world. An easy task, right? Sounds like it, but unfortunately the world number 267 is Rafael Nadal!
It’s hard to believe, but we’re up against this firecracker in the first round! Of course, Zverev has to accept this draw, but it certainly won’t be easy for him even after his triumph in Rome
After a bumpy start to the clay court season, he managed almost everything in the eternal city, losing just one set to finish on top. But of course you also have to realize that The absolute hammer opponents were not here.
Aleksandar Vukic, Luca Darderi, Nuno Borges, Taylor Fritz, Alejandro Tabilo and Nicolas Jarry all lost out to him, meaning that only one of the top 15 had put up a fight.
Alexander Zverev has never reached a final at the current French Open, and a year ago he was beaten in the semi-finals by Casper Ruud. Of course, we also have to mention what happened two years ago in the French capital
They faced each other in the quarter-finals, Nadal and Zverev! At 6-7, 6-6 from the German perspective, the Hamburg-born player buckled and suffered the most serious injury of his career.
It was one of the best matches Roland Garros had seen in years. Zverev had only failed in the first round in Paris once before, in 2017. Back then, he was eliminated by Fernando Verdasco, a Spaniard.
It shouldn’t be a bad omen, after all, Zverev is also seen ahead in all our sports betting apps. He has average odds of 1.22 for the clash with Rafael Nadal, while his opponent has odds of 4.00.
Rafael Nadal and the French Open is a love story that rarely happens in tennis. When he triumphed for the first time in 2005, Alexander Zverev was just eight years old.
The now 37-year-old (perhaps he will celebrate his birthday in Paris on June 3) has won Roland Garros 14 times, a unique statistic. He was also at the top two years ago, but didn’t compete here in 2023.
Now, of course, you could say: Rafael Nadal and Paris, it just fits, regardless of his form, he MUST triumph here in the end. But on the other hand, his form is simply not good at all.
The end of his career is near, but the Spaniard simply can’t stop quite yet. In Rome, Hubert Hurkacz put him in his place with a 6-1, 6-3 win, having previously eliminated Zizou Bergs with great difficulty.
In Madrid, Nadal was beaten outright by Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16, and he only won once in Barcelona. There’s no question that the veteran is no longer unbeatable on his favorite surface, but he is somehow still unpredictable
My Zverev Nadal tip
Alexander Zverev will have reacted with a shake of the head to the draw in the first round, because even when Rafael Nadal is out of form, the French Open calls, the record champion is usually there!
Of course, the Olympic champion has no need to hide from anyone, having won the Masters in Rome just a few days ago. That’s why he’s definitely my favorite, because the fact that Rafael Nadal hardly ever wins speaks against him.
At the same time, I wouldn’t expect the German to win 3:0. Why? Quite simply, Nadal loves Roland Garros and the fans love him. He will certainly have to go beyond his limits, but I trust him to do so and therefore I’m betting on him.
Zverev wins, but Nadal takes at least one set
