Just moments into the first standing ovation inside Court Philippe‑Chatrier, Rafael Nadal was already overwhelmed by emotion. His composure gave way to the sheer gravity of the occasion, and for the rest of the day, the 22-time Grand Slam champion was enveloped in tributes, applause, and heartfelt celebration as Roland Garros bid farewell to one of the sport’s greatest ever players.
The ceremony followed Nadal’s retirement from professional tennis in November of the previous year. “I have been very, very emotional. I think it was perfect, honestly. I couldn’t expect a more emotional day,” Nadal reflected afterwards.
Though his final competitive match came at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands, Roland Garros was always going to be the place for a proper goodbye. Nadal’s legendary record at the French Open 112 wins to just 4 losses and an unmatched 14 titles cemented his place as the King of Clay and ensured that Paris would always be synonymous with his name. Smiling as he reminisced, Nadal remarked, “To win 14 Grand Slams in the same place, here in Roland Garros, that can happen. But it’s gonna take a while, at least 30 more years.”
The ceremony began shortly after Lorenzo Musetti’s win over Yannick Hanfmann, as the crowd transformed into a living tribute. Spectators were given orange shirts printed with “Merci Rafa”, while a coordinated display in the upper stands spelled out “14 RG” with a trophy image and “Rafa” flanked by two hearts. Dressed in a black suit, Nadal was guided to the court’s service line to deliver a speech in French, English, and Spanish.
His words were heartfelt and intimate, directed not only to the crowd but also to his loved ones his parents, his uncle Toni who coached him from childhood, his wife Mery, and their young son Rafael, all present in the audience. Familiar faces from the tennis world, including Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, also joined the celebration.
A particularly poignant moment came when Nadal was joined on court by his three greatest rivals: Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. The sight of the four tennis icons together underscored the depth of mutual respect forged through years of fierce competition. Nadal spoke of this bond with admiration: “To have my three biggest rivals there in the court with me meant a lot. And at the same time it’s a great message for the world, I think, that best rivals, toughest rivalries probably in the history of our sport, are able to be good colleagues, to respect each other. You don’t need to hate the opponent to try to beat him with all your forces.”
In his press conference, Nadal recalled a humorous moment involving Murray. The Brit had messaged Nadal after Arsenal defeated Real Madrid, teasing him with the line: “Hey, Rafa, haven’t spoken to you in a while. Just checking in to make sure you are OK.” Nadal laughed, recalling his delayed realization that it was a joke classic British humour. He jokingly added that he didn’t respond when PSG beat Arsenal.
The ceremony ended with a final emotional flourish as a plaque featuring Nadal’s footprint and signature was unveiled, immortalizing him on the very court where he made history. “It has been unforgettable,” Nadal said. “I suffered a little bit with the emotions, but I enjoyed a lot.”
