French Open: 'Unlucky' Rafael Nadal 'could easily have won' key sets against Alexander Zverev - Novak Djokovic

Updated 30/05/2024 at 11:32 GMT

Novak Djokovic was in attendance for Rafael Nadal's first-round defeat to Alexander Zverev at the French Open, but the world No. 1 was impressed with what he saw from his old rival. Nadal was beaten 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 by the fourth seed, but put on a spirited showing despite his lack of full fitness. Djokovic thought that Nadal "could have easily won" the second and third sets against the world No. 4.

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Novak Djokovic has praised his great rival Rafael Nadal’s performance against Alexander Zverev, despite the 14-time champion crashing out in the opening round of the French Open.

Nadal, continuing his return from another injury hiatus, arrived in Paris unseeded and with a question mark over his full fitness, and he was given a cruel first-round tie against the German fourth seed.

The Spaniard was defeated 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, but defied the doubters to put on a competitive showing against the hard-hitting, big-serving Zverev.

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Djokovic, the top seed at Roland-Garros, was in attendance for the match, and revealed that he was impressed by what he saw from his old rival.

"I think he played very well compared to what we saw from his performance in - where was it? - in Rome and where he played in Barcelona,” Djokovic said.

“I think he played really on a much higher level. Even though he lost in straight sets, the second and third were really close.

"He could have easily won one of those two sets, and maybe the match was going in a different direction.

"But he was a bit unlucky with the draw, because Zverev is in great form, winning Rome, and he was serving extremely well. It's tough to play Sascha when he's feeling the ball so well."

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Nadal initially returned to his favourite surface in Barcelona, but was defeated by Alex de Minaur in the second round, before he was knocked out in the last 16 of the Madrid Masters by Jiri Lehecka.

He was then beaten by Hubert Hurkacz in Rome, where Zverev lifted the title.

The Spaniard’s future participation at Roland-Garros remains up in the air after he backtracked on a previous statement that hinted that this year could be his last.

Djokovic, meanwhile, faces Nadal’s compatriot Roberta Caballes Baena in the second round on Thursday.