The first Nadal vs Zverev match was at Indian Wells in 2016 with Rafael Nadal winning in 3 sets (6-7, 6-0, 7-5).
Since then they have played each other a total of ten times with Nadal currently leading their head to head seven wins to three.
The last time Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal played each other was in the semifinals of the French Open in 2022, which Rafa won after Zverev was forced to retire due to injury in the second set.
Their most memorable grand slam match to date was at the 2017 Australian Open, where Nadal beat Zverev in five sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2).
Nadal vs Zverev Quick Facts
| Rafael Nadal | vs | Alexander Zverev |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Year born | 1997 |
| 2001 | Year turned Pro | 2013 |
| Left handed | Plays | Right handed |
| Two handed backhand | Backhand | Two handed backhand |
| 7 | Matches won | 3 |
| 70% (7/10) | Winning Percentage | 30% (3/10) |
| 2 | Matches won on a hard court | 2 |
| 5 | Matches won on clay | 1 |
| 0 | Matches won on grass | 0 |
| 1 | Matches won in Finals | 0 |
| 2 | Matches won in Grand Slam Tournaments | 0 |
| 4 | Matches won in Masters 1000 Tournaments | 2 |
| 0 | Matches won in ATP World Tour Finals | 1 |
| 1 | Matches won in the Davis Cup | 0 |
Nadal vs Zverev Head to Head Stats
Head to Head at the Grand Slams
Up until the 2022 French Open, Nadal and Zverev had played each other only once in a grand slam tournament, which was a round of 32 match at the 2017 Australian Open.
They played each other for the second time in a grand slam event when they met in the semifinals of the 2022 French Open but unfortunately, Zverev had to retire in the second set.
| Year | Grand Slam | Round | Winner | Match Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | French Open | Semifinals | Nadal | 7-6, 6-6 (Retired) |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Round of 32 | Nadal | 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 |
Head to Head by Court Surface
To date, Nadal and Zverev have played each other a total of four times on hard courts and five times on clay courts.
They have yet to play each other on a grass court as both Rafa and Sasha are more comfortable playing on clay/hard courts than they are on grass.
Head to Head on Hard Courts
Nadal and Zverev have played each other a total of four times on hard courts with their H2H currently standing at 2 wins each.
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Match Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Paris Masters | Semifinals | Zverev | 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2019 | ATP Finals | RR | Zverev | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Round of 32 | Nadal | 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2016 | Indian Wells | Round of 16 | Nadal | 6-7, 6-0, 7-5 |
Head to Head on Clay Courts
Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal have played each other a total of six times on clay with Nadal leading their H2H on clay 5-1.
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Match Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | French Open | Semifinals | Nadal | 7-6, 6-6 (Retired) |
| 2021 | Rome Open | Quarterfinals | Nadal | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2021 | Madrid Open | Quarterfinals | Zverev | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2018 | Rome Open | Final | Nadal | 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 |
| 2018 | Davis Cup (ESP vs GER) | Quarterfinals | Nadal | 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2017 | Monte Carlo Masters | Round of 16 | Nadal | 6-1, 6-1 |
Nadal vs Zverev Matches Played per Year
Below is a summary of the matches played by Nadal and Zverev over the years, with Nadal so far dominating their H2H as Zverev has only won three of the ten matches they have played against each other to date.
| Year | Matches Played | Nadal Wins | Zverev Wins | H2H (Nadal – Zverev) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | – | 1-0 |
| 2017 | 2 | 2 | – | 3-0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | – | 5-0 |
| 2019 | 1 | – | 1 | 5-1 |
| 2020 | 1 | – | 1 | 5-2 |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6-3 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | – | 7-3 |
Below are match highlights from their semifinal match at the 2022 French Open.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Nadal and Zverev Rivalry
How many times has Rafael Nadal beaten Alexander Zverev?
Nadal has beaten Alexander Zverev a total of seven times (2016 Indian Wells, 2017 Australian Open, 2017 Monte Carlo Masters, 2018 Davis Cup, 2018 Rome Open, 2021 Rome Open, and 2022 French Open)
How many times have Nadal and Zverev played each other?
Nadal and Zverev have played each other a total of ten times (2016 Indian Wells, 2017 Australian Open, 2017 Monte Carlo Masters, 2018 Davis Cup, 2018 Rome Open, 2019 ATP Finals, 2019 Paris Masters, 2021 Madrid Open, 2021 Rome Open and 2022 French Open)
When did Nadal and Zverev first play each other?
Their first match was in a round of 32 match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where Nadal won the match 6-7, 6-0, 7-5.
Has Alexander Zverev ever beaten Nadal on Clay?
Yes, Zverev beat Nadal on clay in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Madrid Open (6-4, 6-4).
Has Alexander Zverev ever beaten Nadal at the French Open?
No, AlexanderZverev has never beaten Nadal at the French Open.
Have Nadal and Zverev ever played each other on grass?
No, they have yet to play each other on grass.
Has Nadal and Zverev ever played doubles together?
To date, Nadal and Zverev have not played doubles together.
Are Nadal and Zverev friends off the court?
There is a lot of respect between Nadal and Zverev but they would not be considered close friends off the court.