Rafael Nadal advanced to the French Open final when his opponent Alexander Zverev had to be wheeled off the court after a horrific crash.
When the third seed went down on the baseline after twisting his right ankle on the final point of the second set’s 12th game, he shouted in anguish.
When Zverev departed the court, Nadal was ahead 7-6 (10-8) 6-6.
After defeating Marin Cilic in the second semi-final on Friday, Nadal will face Casper Ruud in the final on Sunday.
Following Zverev’s injury, a concerned Nadal circled the court to check on his opponent, as a physician rushed onto the court to assist the German.
After a brief break, Zverev reappeared on crutches and was greeted with a heartfelt hug by Spain’s Rafael Nadal before receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
“It’s incredibly difficult, and I feel very sorry for him,” said Nadal, a 13-time winner.
“He was in the midst of an incredible tournament. I know he’s vying for a Grand Slam, and I’m confident he’ll win more than one. I wish him the best of luck.
“In this scenario, it’s tough to express a lot of things. Being in the final of Roland Garros is a dream come true for me, but finishing in that manner is not.
“I was in a little room with Sascha [in the off-court treatment area], and seeing him weep was a difficult time.”
Nadal, who is 36 years old, has become the second-oldest men’s singles finalist in French Open history, trailing only American Bill Tilden, who was 37 years old when he finished second in 1930.
