RAFAEL NADAL is edging closer and closer to an historic 14th French Open title.
The Spaniard came through a gruelling four-set quarter-final as he beat arch rival Novak Djokovic.
Rafael Nadal is on course for a 14th French Open final
And he now faces World number 3 Alexander Zverev.
The German stunned clay court specialist Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight to send a clear message that he will be no pushover.
Ahead of this match, Nadal has refused to deny reports from Spain that he will miss Wimbledon due to a foot injury.
He said: “At no time do I want this to seem like a farewell. We will continue working to find solutions to what is happening down with my foot.
“I trust and hope to be able to return.
“This last year has been difficult. Day to day, with everything that it entails, has been difficult not just because of all the effort but to stay competitive.
“And I play to be competitive. It’s what makes me really happy. We will keep thinking about the things we need to improve and the desire is to continue.”
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What time does Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev start?
Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev takes place on Friday, June 3.
It will be played on Philippe Chatrier Court.
The match is scheduled to start no earlier than 1.45pm UK time.
The players last met in Rome last year when Nadal ran out 6-3, 6-4 winner.
What TV channel is Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev on and can I live stream it free?
Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev is live on Eurosport.
To stream it live, head to Discovery+.
If you are a new subscriber, you can watch the match for free by picking up a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime Video and then choosing a 7-day trial of the Eurosport Player as an add-on.
Latest odds
Rafael Nadal 2/7
Alexander Zverev 5/2
*Odds from Betfair correct as of Thursday, June 2
Head-to-head
Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev have played each other nine times previously.
The Spaniard has won six of their matches while the German has won three.
On clay, is more dominant, having won four times.
However, Zverev has beaten Nadal on his favourite surface – a feat only the best can boast of – running out 6-4, 6-4 winner at Madrid 2021.
What they said
Rafael Nadal says he will need to be at his best to beat Zverev.
He commented: “Zverev is playing great, he’s had a good clay court season, and he’s playing well.
“He won against Alcaraz because he is doing a lot of things well, so I need to play at my 100% again.
“He’s a great player, one of the best in the world without a doubt.
“So the only way to keep having chances to go through is to play aggressive and with the right determination from the beginning until the end, and just be focused all the time.”
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