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Rafael Nadal received an emotional farewell at Roland Garros on Sunday as the French Open paid tribute to the legendary Spaniard, widely known as the ‘King of Clay’, in a special ceremony held on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 38-year-old, who officially retired from professional tennis in November 2024, was honoured in front of a capacity crowd who spelled out “14 RG, Rafa” with coordinated T-shirts in the stands — a nod to his record 14 French Open titles.
Nadal, who began his dominance of the Parisian clay courts as a teenager in 2005, departs the tournament with an astonishing record of 112 wins and only four losses. His final competitive appearance at the French Open came in 2024, when he was defeated in the opening round by Alexander Zverev.
“It’s hard to put into words… I’ve played on this court for 20 years. I’ve experienced pain, victory, and defeat. So many emotions,” Nadal told the crowd after a montage of his greatest Roland Garros moments played on the big screen.
His family and close friends, as well as members of his former coaching team — including his uncle and long-time mentor Toni Nadal — looked on from the player’s box.
“This court is without a doubt the most important one of my career,” Nadal added, to huge cheers from the audience. “My story here began in 2004 when I could barely walk due to a foot injury. I came to the top of the stadium, looked down at the court and dreamt of playing here.”
That dream came true a year later, when he won his maiden French Open title by defeating Mariano Puerta in the final.
Nadal’s farewell ceremony was made even more poignant by the arrival of his greatest rivals — Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray — who walked onto centre court to join the tribute, met with thunderous applause.
Addressing the trio, Nadal reflected on their legendary on-court battles and how retirement has altered his perspective. “All those years competing fiercely… It’s incredible how time changes things,” he said.
“There was always pressure and tension between us, but it was respectful. We pushed one another to the limit and it helped us grow. It means the world to me that you are all here.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion concluded his career after the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, a farewell that initially deprived Parisian fans of a proper goodbye. In recognition of his unmatched achievements at Roland Garros, Nadal was presented with a commemorative trophy featuring his footprint embedded in clay.
French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton, who previously expressed regret that Nadal hadn’t received a grander send-off, revealed that he and tournament director Amélie Mauresmo visited Nadal’s home in December to plan this fitting celebration.
With 14 titles at a single Grand Slam, Nadal’s French Open legacy stands unrivalled — far surpassing the previous best of 11 by Margaret Court at the Australian Open. His place in the sport’s history is not only secure, but iconic.
