John McEnroe slams officials as “crazy” after Rafael Nadal’s controversy

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In 2024, Rafael Nadal made his final appearance at Roland Garros.

Known as the King of Clay, that year was his farewell tour on the ATP circuit before retiring after the Davis Cup.

Nadal went into the 2024 tournament having lost just three matches at Roland Garros in his entire career, with 14 titles to his name.

He was ranked 276th in the world at the time but used a protected ranking to enter and drew Alexander Zverev in the opening round.

Nadal lost to Zverev, and tennis legend John McEnroe thought the decision not to have him as a seeded player was ‘crazy’.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

McEnroe’s frustration with the French Open seeding decision in 2024

Tennis 365 reported McEnroe as saying: “It makes no sense that someone who has won 14 times is not seeded.”

“It is the way the tournament has always acted. For me it is crazy. It is the most interesting first round of a Major that I remember and the most tough [in the] Open Era for someone like Nadal.

“He has to do whatever he wants. He loves to compete and if he loses to Zverev it does not mean that all his records at Roland Garros will be lost. Maybe his time has come to be a father and everyone’s time has come.

“Maybe I’m wrong and he’ll be able to do something special here. It’s a question mark as to how his body will recover as the rounds go by.

“On the one hand it will be a surprise, and on the other it won’t. People like him, Novak or Roger are Superman.”

Alexander Zverev reflects on victory over Rafael Nadal

Following his win, Zverev said: “It was definitely special. I didn’t know how to act in certain moments, especially at the end of the match.