Roland Garros Pays Tribute to Nadal’s Legendary Career

On May 25, Roland Garros honored the great tennis career of Rafael Nadal with an emotional tribute, celebrating his unprecedented record at the French Open. The ceremony was held at Court Philippe-Chatrier and displayed a video that included words from his peers, parents, friends, wife, and fellow tennis players. Tennis legends like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and thousands of fans gathered to commemorate Nadal’s accomplished career in tennis.

Nadal, emotional while he spoke, delivered a speech in French, English, and Spanish. In the speech, he talked about his appreciation for those who have supported him throughout the entire journey. He expressed his gratitude toward his family, coaches, and millions of fans who came to watch his games throughout the years. The ceremony came to an end as the directors unveiled a plaque featuring Nadal's footprint, which symbolizes his important contribution to the tournament.

Nadal’s rivalry with Djokovic has the highest stakes, consisting of over 60 matches. In marathon matches at the highest level, the Djokovic and Nadal rivalry has fueled tennis for the past decade. Considering the impact of Federer as well, Nadal and Federer shared together one of the sport’s most iconic rivalries. They had over 40 meetings and countless Grand Slam showdowns, especially the one that occurred at the 2008 Wimbledon final. Andy Murray was also important in these rivalries, constantly causing trouble to the other three. Collectively, these four players make up the ‘Big 4.’

The entire tribute serves as a fitting farewell to Nadal, who is also known as the "King of Clay." With a record of 14 French Open titles and a 112–4 overall record on the clay court at Roland Garros, Nadal stands out by far. Nadal’s retirement, along with other tennis greats, signals the end of a great era of professional tennis.