Zverev injury vs Rafael Nadal: Slow-motion of French Open incident is excruciating

A highly anticipated matchup between the third and fifth ranked tennis stars was brought to a horrific end in the semi-final of the French Open on Friday.

A gruesome injury to Alexander Zverev saw Rafael Nadal reach his 14th final, with his opponent forced to retire from the competition and having to leave the court in a wheelchair.

Nadal was awarded the win with an official score of 7-6, 6-6, with the two set to enter a tiebreak before the disturbing scenes unfolded.

The 25-year-old German returned Nadal’s shot, landing awkwardly on his right foot, rolling his ankle and collapsing to the floor in agony.

The following crowd-silencing screams from Zverev could be heard on the broadcast of the event – a mixture of pain, and no doubt disappointment, as he crashed out the competition in the most brutal fashion.

Zverev was helped to his feet and left the court in a wheelchair to a standing ovation, before returning on crutches to the same response soon after.

Nadal showed good sportsmanship to his competitor as he stood nearby, offering support, all the while helplessly gazing on – by no means the look of a man set to challenge for a 22nd Grand Slam.

Damn man…. such a good match be sad if this ends it….#RolandGarros #Zverev #Nadal pic.twitter.com/72QzNplqp4

Nadal admitted: “Of course, for me to be in the final of Roland Garros one more time is a dream without a doubt.

“But, at the same time, to finish that way, to see him crying there is a very tough moment.”

Nadal will return to the court on Sunday as he faces eighth ranked Casper Ruud, after the Norwegian defeated Marin Cilic in a semi-final clouded not with injury, but climate protests.

Meanwhile, it is not known just how long this injury could keep the world number three