Rafael Nadal's possible French Open swansong came to an end following a straight-sets defeat by Alexander Zverev.
The German came out on top 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in just over three hours on an emotional Court Philippe-Chatrier.
It is widely believed this will be the Spaniard's final appearance at Roland Garros, where he has won a record 14 titles, though the 37-year-old acknowledged he is not yet certain on his future.
The two players were back on Chatrier two years after their notorious semi-final showdown, which was curtailed when Zverev suffering a horrifying ankle injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
However, fresh from his ATP Masters triumph at the Italian Open, the German was quickly into his stride this time around, winning 12 of his last 13 service points on the way to taking the first set.
The fourth seed, who has reached three successive French Open semi-finals, then prevailed in a nail-biting second-set tie-break, before a couple of breaks in the third paved the way for him to seal a commanding win.
3/74 - Alexander Zverev has become only the third player to defeat Rafael Nadal at the Roland Garros after Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic - Nadal faced 74 different opponents at this event. Elected.#rolandgarros | @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/vfnL4F1lR1
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 27, 2024
Data Debrief: Third time lucky for Zverev
Whether or not that was Nadal's final match at the French Open remains to be seen.
What is certain is that his 14 titles are the most by any player in a single tournament in the Open Era, and his 112 match wins are the highest tally in men's singles draws in a single major event.
Of the 74 different opponents he has faced at Roland Garros, Zverev is only the third to defeat the Spaniard after Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic.
