Rafael Nadal's first-round exit at the French Open leaves Lindsey Vonn heartbroken

Lindsey Vonn was heartbroken by Rafael Nadal's first-round loss to Alexander Zverev at the French Open. Nadal lost to the German with a score of 3-6, 6-7(5), 3-6 in his first-round match at the Roland Garros, which might as well be his final appearance at the Grand Slam as stated by himself during the post-match on-court interview.

Lindsey Vonn has been a staunch supporter of sports and athletics. Despite retiring from professional skiing in 2019, the American Alpine skier remains glued to sports and never misses an opportunity to attend major sporting events.

Earlier this month, Vonn was seen at the Matua Madrid Open 2024. She had traveled to Spain for a brief holiday and took the opportunity to attend some matches at the Madrid Open. As she was recuperating from her partial knee replacement surgery, Vonn marked her presence at the tournament to witness players such as Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki, and others in action.

As a passionate tennis fan, she always expresses her admiration for the sport's most celebrated figures. In the wake of Nadal's defeat at the French Open, Vonn conveyed her dismay on social media. The outcome resonated with all Nadal enthusiasts, as it might signify the end of his illustrious career on the court, having amassed 14 titles.

"RAFA 😢😢😢, " she tweeted.

Moreover, she reacted to his post-match court interview with a series of emojis.

Lindsey Vonn opens up on being inspired by Rafael Nadal

Vonn at the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid during the Red Carpet photoshoot

Lindsey Vonn has taken a lot of inspiration from Rafael Nadal throughout her career. In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Vonn revealed that the Spanish tennis player's grit and ability to bounce back from injuries inspired and motivated her a lot.

During her remarkable career, Vonn suffered several injuries. She faced significant setbacks in her career, but she overcame them to triumph. Her ability to overcome setbacks that hindered her career advancement was characterized by her persistence, self-belief, and hard effort.

“Watching Nadal win the French Open was really incredible. His grit, I think, is pretty impressive. He's continuously come back from so many injuries and he's at an age now where many people write him off, but he fights for every single point and it's impressive to watch,” she said.

Many up-and-coming skiers have been motivated by Vonn, and her amazing skiing career will serve as an example for future generations.