Rafael Nadal has crashed out of the French Open in the first round after a difficult draw against Alexander Zverev proved too much.
Nadal entered the French Open with many under the impression it was set to be his last.
That led to hopes of one final charge in the Roland Garros draw, but being unseeded meant he was at risk of a difficult opening match.
And they didn't come much tougher than world No 3 Zverev, who entered the French Open in great form having won the Italian Open.
Rafael Nadal lost in straight sets to Alexander Zverev
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Nadal called it a 'super-tough first round' match up and appeared fearful of losing his opening match at Roland Garros for the first time in his career.
Philippe-Chatrier was full to the brim by the time Nadal's match against Zverev started as the Spaniard was given a hero's welcome on court.
Every point won was met with huge cheers and every point lost led to loud sighs from the crowd.
Nadal lost his very first service game to start on the backfoot and struggled to trouble the German tennis star.
There were signs of the vintage Nadal on show at times, but they were few and far between as he lost the first set.
However, Nadal began to find some momentum in the second set and, after holding serve in a nervy fourth game, broke Zverev for the first time in the match.
He consolidated the break with an assured service game next, but Zverev eventually broke back in the 10th game to force a tiebreak.
Nadal had the crowd on the edge of their seat with some brilliant winners, but it was Zverev who once again managed to get over the line to take a crucial 2-0 lead.
Alexander Zverev shared a warm embrace with Rafael Nadal at the net
REUTERS
Given all of Nadal's trials and tribulations through the past 18 months, coming back from two sets down was always going to be a tall order.
But the 14-time French Open threatened exactly that when he broke early in the second set to take a 2-0 lead.
The crowd was pumped, but Zverev quickly silenced everyone in the very next match to get back on level terms.
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Nadal continued to battle with multiple break-point opportunities created in the third set to try and get back in control.
However, Zverev's class and ability proved too much in the end as he clinched the all-important break in the seventh game.
The German eventually got the job done with another break of serve with Nadal's French Open hopes ending in the first round for the first time in his career.
