Exclusive: Alex Zverev says he could have beaten Rafa Nadal if not for injury - ‘I don't want to sound arrogant’

Alexander Zverev believes he would have beaten Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of last year's French Open had he not been injured, he has exclusively told Eurosport. Last June, Nadal progressed to the final after Zverev was forced to retire at the end of the second set of their semi-final owing to an ankle injury. The German was leading 7-6(2) 6-6 at the time.

Ad Nadal went on to win the tournament, beating Casper Ruud in the final 6-3 6-3 6-0. ATP Monte CarloATP clay power rankings: Djokovic, Alcaraz lead the way, but where's Nadal?4 HOURS AGO When asked whether he thought he would have won the semi-final had he been able to continue, Zverev confirmed he thought he could. «For some reason I did.

I don't want to sound arrogant,» he said. «Rafa is obviously the best player to ever play on that surface so you never know what happens. You never know what happens in that match as well.

If I don't get injured, of course I [could have lost] that match. Of course, he can go on to win his 14th Grand Slam. »But I felt like I was playing my best tennis that I've ever played on that surface.

So for some reason, I did feel like I could at least compete with him, which I was doing. «The outcome of the match obviously, always depends on little factors as well. But I did feel like that could have been the week for me.» Carballes Baena stuns Evans in Grand Prix Hassan II semi-final Watch Highlights as Kecmanovic beats Cecchinato in Estoril Open semi-finals Exclusive: Ruud backs Medvedev for clay success Zverev also spoke about how different players come back from injury.

«Rafa and Roger [Federer] are different,» he said. «They come back from injury and they start winning tournaments immediately. I don't know how they do that.