Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal have played each other a total of ten times on tour with Rafa currently leading their H2H 7-3.
The last time they played each other was in the semifinals of the French Open in 2022, which Rafa won after Alexander was forced to retire due to an injury he picked up in the second set.
The first Nadal vs Zverev match was at Indian Wells in 2016 with Rafa winning the match in 3 sets (6-7, 6-0, 7-5).
Their most memorable grand slam match was at the 2017 Australian Open, where Rafa beat Alexander in five sets (4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2).
Nadal vs Zverev H2H
| 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 |
Grand Slams
Up until the 2022 French Open, Rafael Nadal (or “RN”) and Alexander Zverev (or “AZ”) 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, Alexander had to retire in the second set injured.
| Year | Grand Slam | Round | Winner | Match Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Roland Garros | Semifinals | R.N | 7-6, 6-6 (Retired) |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Round of 32 | R.N | 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 |
Head to Head by Court Surface
They 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.
Hard Courts
They have played each other a total of four times on hard courts with their H2H on hard courts currently standing at 2 wins each (2-2).
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Match Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Paris Masters | Semifinals | A.Z | 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2019 | ATP Finals | Group Stage | A.Z | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2017 | Australian Open | Round of 32 | R.N | 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2016 | Indian Wells | Round of 16 | R.N | 6-7, 6-0, 7-5 |
Clay Courts
They have played each other a total of six times on clay with Rafa leading their H2H 5-1.
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Match Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Roland Garros | Semifinals | R.N | 7-6, 6-6 (Retired) |
| 2021 | Rome Masters | Quarterfinals | R.N | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2021 | Madrid Masters | Quarterfinals | A.Z | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2018 | Rome Masters | Final | R.N | 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 |
| 2018 | Davis Cup (ESP vs GER) | Quarterfinals | R.N | 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2017 | Monte Carlo Masters | Round of 16 | R.N | 6-1, 6-1 |
Matches Played per Year
Below is a summary of the matches they have played over the years, with Rafa so far dominating their H2H as Alexander has only won three of the ten matches they have played to date.
| Year | Matches | Nadal Wins | Zverev Wins | H2H |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Roland Garros in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Rafael Nadal beaten Alexander Zverev?
Rafa has beaten Alexander a total of seven times (2016 Indian Wells, 2017 Australian Open, 2017 Monte Carlo Masters, 2018 Davis Cup, 2018 Rome Masters, 2021 Rome Masters, and 2022 Roland Garros)
How many times have they played each other?
They have played each other a total of ten times (2016 Indian Wells, 2017 Australian Open, 2017 Monte Carlo Masters, 2018 Davis Cup, 2018 Rome Masters, 2019 ATP Finals, 2019 Paris Masters, 2021 Madrid Masters, 2021 Rome Masters, and 2022 Roland Garros)
When did they first play each other?
Their first match was in a round of 32 match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where Rafa won the match in three sets 6-7, 6-0, 7-5.
Has Alexander Zverev ever beaten Nadal on Clay?
Yes, Alexander beat Rafa on clay in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Madrid Masters (6-4, 6-4).
Has Alexander Zverev ever beaten Nadal at Roland Garros?
No, Alexander has never beaten Rafa at Roland Garros.
Have they ever played each other on grass?
No, they have yet to play each other on grass.
Have they ever played doubles together?
To date, they have not played competitive doubles together.