Alexander Zverev brought the curtain down Monday on Rafael Nadal’s French Open career as the Spaniard played what could well have been his last match  at Roland Garros.

The 14-time winner went down 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 to the fourth-seeded German who advanced into the second round at the expense of the 37-year-old king of clay.

Watching from the stands were Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. 

In an emotional on-court interview, the Spanird said he still holds out a slight chance of perhaps playing another edition – or hopefully the summer Paris  Olympics. 

“Maybe in two months I will say it’s (career) enough,” he said. “But I don’t feel that yet, I still have some goals in front.

“I hope to be here on this beautiful court for the Olympics. That motivates me and will be another chance.  I hope to be well-prepared.”

Defeat was only the fourth here for Nadal at the event which he has dominated with a match record of 112-4.

The crowd darling was making his first Roland Garros appearance since 2022 when he won his 14th title.

Nadal and Zverev last played in a 2022 semi-final on the same court, with Zverev tearing ankle tendons and missing the rest of that season.

Monday’s defeat was the first time that Nadal had lost two consecutive clay matches at the Tour level.

“I don;t know what to say,” Zverev said. “Except thank you Rafa from all of the tennis world.

“I watched you play all through my childhood and it was an honour to have played you wice on this court as a professional.

“I won’t speak more, today is not my moment, it’s Rafa’s moment..”

Zverev began the afternoon on the Chatrier showcourt with a break of Nadal to love, going onto establish early command aon the clay.

Nadal went up a break in the second set but lost it in the 01th game before Zverev then ran out a two-set lead after a tiebreaker.

The pair traded third-set breaks in the second and third games, with Nadal saving four break points to hold for 3-2. But Zverev finished off victory with breaks of the final two Nadal serves.

 Nadal was moved by years of support from Paris tennis crowds.

“I don;t know if this was my last time in front of you,” he said. “I’m not 100 per cent sure.

“But if it is the last time, I really enjoyed it. It’s so special to feel the love in the place that I love the most.

“I had a dream of coming back to Roland Garros, even if this first round was not the ideal one. 

“I had chances today but they were not enough against Sascha.

“It’s difficult to say what the future is, but there is a big percentage that i won’t be back playing here.

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner began his bid for a possible move to the top ranking spot with a decisive 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Chris Eubanks.

One slip in Paris by underdone top seed Novak Djokovic and Australian Open winner Sinner could take over at the summit of the ATP.

Djokovic has yet to win a title this season and comes into the major with self-confessed doubts about his form.

Sinner returned to action here after last playing a month ago in Madrid, with a hip injury sending him to specialists in Turin who also treat Juventus footballers.

The 22-year-old roared out of the blocks under the factory-fresh roof of the Lenglen showcourt, which was put to good use as light rain halted play on outside courts around midday.

He dominated American Eubanks, who failed to qualify here in his first five attempts and lost a year ago in the first round.

The Italian second seed had to get out of minor trouble in the closing stages as Eubanks saved a match point in the ninth game before Sinner fought off a pair of break points a game later before closing out victory with a service winner after just over two hours.

“I’m just happy to be back on court after being injured,’ Sinner said. “I made my first Grand Slam quarter-final here (2020) and I have a lot of great memories.

“I didn’t play my best today but the team and I are building every day, always trying to improve.”

The Italian who next plays French veteran Richard Gasquet said his injury recovery remains positive: “The hip is good and I’m very happy about that.

“We worked hard to be back on court as soon as possible. The goal is to improve every day, that is the most important thing along with having fun on court.”

2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas won a demanding first set to kick-start his opening win, with the Greek ninth seed putting out Marton Fucsovics 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-1.

The two-time champion on Monte Carlo clay said that coming through the opening set was key to the win in just under two and a half hours.

“I fought my way into the match. It was crucial to win the first set and get the early lead.

“I felt lucky to walk away with the first and that brought confidence to me in the second set.

“I felt like I got momentum: my shots were deep with more acceleration.  .

“At the end I played brilliant tennis, everything in my game was working.”

Tsitsipas improved to 14-3 on clay this season.

Canadian Felix Auger-Alaissime waited out rain interruptions before finally finishing off a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 first-round defeat of Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka