Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal’s long-time rival Novak Djokovic, who are both awaiting their 100th ATP title on Saturday, all joined him on the main Chatrier court.
After Nadal’s speech, the fans roared as the trio left to greet their fellow former world number one, who was also a former world number one.
Nadal compared the other “Big Four” players to saying, “To have my three biggest rivals on the court with me meant a lot.
It’s a great message to the world that, in addition to being good teammates, the most difficult rivals to be probably in the history of our sport, they can also be good friends and respect one another, in my opinion.
You can use all your force to defeat your opponent, but you don’t need to hate him. And in some ways, that’s the message we, as a people, have sent to the new generations.
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The 38-year-old, who retired from tennis in November, was serenaded by the Roland Garros crowd, who had distributed the message “14 RG, Rafa” to the crowd wearing various colored t-shirts.
Nadal won the French Open 14 times, breaking a record for the most victories she won when she made her debut as a teenager in 2005.
The Spaniard won the clay-court Grand Slam with a remarkable 112-4 win-loss record.
He won the title in 2022 before losing to Alexander Zverev in the first round in his final match on the Paris clay last year.
I’ve been playing on this court for 20 years, and I’m not sure where to begin. I lost, won, and suffered. After watching a video of his Roland Garros career highlights, Nadal told the crowd, “I have lived many emotions here on this court.
Along with Toni, Nadal’s uncle, and many of his former coaching staff, the player’s family and friends gathered outside the player’s box.
Because I’m still a little shy for all this stuff, Nadal told reporters, “It has been unforgettable, full of emotions for a guy like me that doesn’t love these kinds of things.”
I dislike being in the center of attention for these things a lot. When I was playing tennis, that was sufficient. But, to be honest, I enjoyed it. I had a few emotional moments, but I really enjoyed it.
After the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Nadal hung up his racquet, initially denying him the chance to bid his adoring fans in Paris.
With Margaret Court’s 11 Australian Open titles coming in second place, his total of 14 victories at a single Grand Slam seems unlikely to be beaten.
A mark of Nadal’s footprint was carved into the clay, and he was presented with a special trophy to honor his French Open record.
Nadal said, “I didn’t know anything about the ceremony.”
The only thing I was aware of before going there was that I would be watching a video of my speech, going on, and then picking up a few surprises.
“Then I assumed that would be the only year I would see that.” Knowing that it will last a lifetime, I can’t adequately describe it.
Following his final appearance in the Davis Cup, the 22-time Grand Slam champion was given a slam dunk, but French tennis federation chief Gilles Moretton claimed earlier this year that the tribute “was not, in my opinion, what it should have been.”
