 "Watch: Rafael Nadal, 14-time French Open champion, immortalised at Roland Garros with special gesture")
Rafael Nadal had an emotional reunion with fellow members of tennis’ ‘Big Four’ – Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic – on the opening day of the 2025 French Open on Sunday. The 40-year-old was the undisputed ‘King of Clay’ throughout his career and had reigned supreme in Paris, winning the French Open a record 14 times which form the bulk of his 22 Grand Slam titles.
A special ceremony was but the least the French Open organisers could have done honour Nadal's incredible career. Besides reuniting with his former rivals, Nadal was serenaded with a warm round of applause by spectators, who wore different coloured t-shirts to create the message “14 RG, Rafa”, as he stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier for the final time on Sunday.
Nadal’s permanent footprint unveiled on Paris clay
A special video package was also played highlighting some of Nadal’s most memorable moments at the iconic venue, with his family members and friends watching it from the player’s box along with many of his former coaching staff, including uncle Toni.
To the King, leaving a perpetual mark on the Roland-Garros clay.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/SFHkAuYG9K
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2025
The Spaniard later received a special trophy commemorating his French Open record – which makes him the player with most title wins at a single Grand Slam. Nadal was also immortalised at the venue with a footprint of his carved into the clay.
The close-up of Rafa Nadal's permanent footprint on Phillipe Chatrier at Roland Garros.
— Swish 🍒 Tennis (@Zwxsh) May 25, 2025
Never seen anything like this in tennis, ever. pic.twitter.com/NW0XWZawL0
“I didn’t know anything about the ceremony,” Nadal said, reacting to the organisers’ special gesture that took place towards the end of the opening day’s play at Roland Garros.
“Only thing that I knew before going there was going to be video when I go on, then gonna be my speech, and then gonna be a couple of surprises.
“Then when I see that, I thought it was going to be just for this year. Knowing that’s going to be forever there, it’s a present that I can’t describe in words,” he added.
What is extraordinary about Nadal’s French Open record besides his title count is his 112-4 win-loss record at the clay-court Grand Slam. He had won the first of his titles at the age of 18 in 2005, with the final one coming in 2022.
Also Read | Rafael Nadal on life after retirement: 'I am having fun... I don’t miss much tennis'
Nadal had suffered a first-round exit in his final appearance at the French Open last year, suffering a straight-games defeat against Alexander Zverev, who would go on to finish runner-up after losing to another Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz.
A couple of months later, he would make his final appearance at his favourite stomping ground as an active player during the Paris Olympics, where he suffered a second-round loss against Djokovic, who would go on to win his maiden Olympic gold medal.
Nadal bid farewell to the sport during Spain’s Davis Cup Finals quarter-final tie against Netherlands in Malaga in November, which the Dutch won 2-1.
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