“It's normal that they are interested to see how this is going to be": Nadal's reaction to top players watching His French Open match

Rafael Nadal commented on the presence of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek in the audience during his French Open match against Alexander Zverev.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion fell 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the first round, marking the first time in his career he was eliminated in his debut at the tournament.

Nadal's accomplishments at Roland Garros stand as one of the most remarkable feats in tennis history, with 14 titles in 19 years and an astonishing record of 112-4, making his recent loss to Zverev all the more notable.

His esteemed colleagues, including world No. 1 players Djokovic and Swiatek, as well as former No. 1 Alcaraz, were among the spectators on Court Philippe Chatrier, acknowledging his enduring legacy.

His colleagues didn't want to miss out on the action either, as both world No. 1s Djokovic and Swiatek, along with former No. 1 Alcaraz, were spotted among the spectators at Court Philippe Chatrier.

In the press conference, after discussing the match, Nadal was asked if he noticed the presence of these top players in the audience, including his competitors Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Swiatek, who has often declared Nadal as her idol.

Nadal remarked that he didn't see them during the match, but that it is something natural given his history in the tournament: “I mean, I didn't see them, but I think in some way it's normal, no? I think if that's the last time that I’m gonna be playing here and if I know that Novak is the last time playing in Wimbledon or in Australia and I was there,” he said.

“I mean, these kind of rivals or young players that are here like Carlos that probably they watch me on TV the most of his years that they are living (smiling), it's normal that in some way they are interested to see how this is going to be, and especially in this particular place with all the history that I had behind, no?”

“But yeah, I mean, happy that that happens, you know, because that means that I had a positive legacy here and positive legacy for my career, no? And that's it,” Rafa Nadal concluded.