 "Rafael Nadal couldn't hold back his tears during the tribute ceremony. Image: Reuters")
Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, was honoured with a special tribute at the Roland Garros on Sunday. The ceremony took place on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the same court where Nadal created history with his 14 French Open titles, a record which will take generations to break.
Nadal can’t hold back tears
Nadal, who retired from professional tennis in November last year, was seen shedding tears as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Fans held up signs and wore shirts that read ‘Merci Rafa,’ thanking the Spanish legend for his incredible career on the clay courts of Paris.
The ceremony also featured a video montage showing highlights from Nadal’s illustrious career. Nadal last played at the French Open in 2024, when he lost in the first round to Alexander Zverev, a match that turned out to be his final appearance at the tournament.
“This is tough," he began, in French. “Good evening, everyone. I don’t know where to start after playing on this court for the past 20 years. Winning, losing — but especially being moved every time I’ve had the chance to be here.”
Meanwhile, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray were also present during the tribute ceremony, making it even more special for the Spanish legend. Current stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek were also present in the stands to pay their respects to Nadal.
“We showed the world that we can fight as hard as possible, but being good colleagues and respecting each other very well. And for me, it means a lot that you are all here,” Nadal told the players with whom he was grouped as the Big Four of men’s tennis. “You gave me some hard times on court, honestly, but I really enjoyed pushing myself to the limit every single day to compete with all of you.”
“Thank you, France. Thank you, Paris. You have given me emotions and moments I could never have imagined. You can never know how gratifying it is to be appreciated in the place that matters most. … You made me feel like a Frenchman,” Nadal said. “I can no longer play in front of you anymore, but my heart and my memories will always be linked to this magical place.”
(With agency inputs)