Roland Garros pays tribute to Rafa Nadal in a fitting tribute: "Thank you, Rafa."

Rafael Nadal has been so great in the world of tennis, and of sport, that anything done in his honor seemed small. This is how Roland Garros became this Sunday, May 25th, a day of emotional history. Nadal appeared on the Philippe Chatrier, as he has for the last 20 editions, and although not in shorts, he was accompanied by the voice of Marc Maury, fulfilling a tradition that is already missed. Nadal appeared on the Philippe Chatrier, not to win a match, but to earn the ovation that gathered in gratitude for so many wonderful afternoons on this land that is so much his own, so much Parisian. This time, a "Thank you, Nadal" worthy of his name.

Last year was the last in which the Balearic native spent his time with the racket in his hand; he lost in the first round of the tournament, against Zverev, and refused to accept any applause. Not yet, because he wanted his body to endure a little more than his head still could. He gave himself a little more time, a handful of more matches in that Philippe Chatrier stadium, now an Olympic venue. And when he lost to Novak Djokovic, a very close goodbye loomed. "I don't know if it was my last match here. But if it was, I enjoyed it," the Balearic native said unspokenly at the time. But he didn't want Paris to be a farewell through that back door.

A tournament, a city, and a country that adores him couldn't afford it. They showed it by offering him the chance to carry the Olympic torch right in the final meters, under the Eiffel Tower and from the hands of a French legend like Zinedine Zidane. And they wanted to tell him so on this afternoon, which began rainy but opened up to welcome the tennis player, the icon, the legend that Nadal is everywhere, but especially in this square.

Although he retired from tennis six months ago, in November, at the Davis Cup held in Malaga, Paris, Nadal and the tournament will always go hand in hand, as tournament director Amelie Mauresmo emphasized. She declined to reveal anything, but did indicate that it would be "simple," very much in keeping with Nadal's history, one that rarely enjoys the spotlight. That was enough for his 112 wins and only four losses (against three opponents: Robin Soderling, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev).

But simple doesn't mean unemotional. From the very beginning of the day, already known as "Nadal Day," the venue exuded a certain nervousness and hair-raising hue. And the Chatrier stadium was dressed in earthy red with the message "Thank you, Rafa," to begin a tribute that is now part of his incredible track record on this afternoon of May 25th, when everyone wanted to say goodbye to Nadal, but no one wanted to say goodbye to Nadal, who has been everything on this court. On every court.

The Philippe Chatrier was indeed too small for all the thanks the Balearic native received, who appeared on his court, dyed an earthy red in his honor and with his name on all the screens, without a racket but in a suit, accompanied on his exit by the voice of Marc Maury, who introduced him as always and like never before, "Roland Garros champion in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022." A tradition that is already missed.

Alone, the sole protagonist of the moment, the Balearic native received several minutes of applause before the screen reminisced about this twenty-year journey filled with joy, with bottles lined up, drops of sweat and improbable points, 14 Musketeers' Cups and leaps into the box, celebrations flooded by the sand, and the Nadal spirit that filled his eyes with tears on more than one occasion. No wonder. No one was missing: Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Yannik Noah, Iga Swiatek. And the Balearic native's entire family, including his wife and daughter, and also his uncle Toni, a supporter of much of his career, who was also the protagonist of several images in a video that captured all the moments, the points, the hugs, the emotions, the leaps into the box, the celebrations on the sand, and which closed with a box office, his box office.

Then, an emotional Nadal tried to speak in French to express his gratitude. "I don't know where to start after playing for twenty years on this court, after having won, lost, and been moved every time." "My infinite thanks to the president of the Federation and the director of Roland Garros, and the entire tournament team for this moment. It's been an incredible story since I came here for the first time in 2004. I couldn't play that first year because of a foot problem, but in 2005, I finally had the opportunity to play here, at 18 years old, and I was lucky enough to do so with one of my greatest rivals, Richard Gasquet. That's when I understood what this tournament meant. I've had incredible rivals, like Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and of course Roger Federer. You pushed me to the limit physically and mentally. Without these rivalries, it would have been impossible to surpass each other."

“Here, in this stand, there are so many people who wanted to support me in this moment: family, team, and friends,” he commented afterward in Spanish. “I’ll start with my family, who have always been an important pillar for me.” He then thanked the sponsors for being there because they were always there for him during difficult times. “To all the coaches, physical trainers, and physiotherapists who at some point in my career have been with me and helped me grow. Thank you so much. To my team of all time, you have been a second family: Gemma, Gustavo, Tomeu, Francis, Tous, Charly, Joan, Rafel, Benito, and Carlos. I can only say thank you for everything, truly. You have been the best team I could have had, both personally and professionally. What we have experienced together has been unforgettable; that is how I have experienced it, and I hope you have felt it that way.” "To my family, my uncles, my godmother and godfather, who have taken care of me since I was little and have done everything possible to make me happy. You know how important you have been in my life. I can never thank you enough. Thank you so much. To my grandmothers, at 92 and 94, I'm lucky to have you here and that I spent a large part of my childhood with you. And to my grandparents, wherever they are, you have no idea how much I miss you," Nadal became emotional at the time.

The crowd helped make the moment even more emotional with a spontaneous "Rafa, Rafa, Rafa," before he went on to talk about his uncle Toni: "You're the reason I'm here. Thank you for dedicating a large part of your life to wanting to be with me, making me suffer and laugh, and pushing me to the limit. What we've been through hasn't always been easy, but it's been worth it. Because of our personalities, neither you nor I are good at expressing our feelings. I want you to know that my gratitude is endless for everything you've sacrificed for me. You're the best coach I ever thought I could have."

And he also dedicated some very special words to his wife, Mery Perelló: "Life partner, we never imagined in 2005 that we would be here twenty years later. Thank you for always supporting me. I hope to make you as happy as you've made me. This year and a half has been complicated, but with your support and understanding everything has been less complicated." "Dad, Mom, and Maribel, you have been the pillars of my life. Thank you for treating me like a son and a brother, not like a successful tennis player. Thank you for your values ​​of effort, education, and thank you for giving me everything in every way. It's impossible for me to repay you for what you've done and what you do for me. I love you." These words opened another emotional ovation.

"Thank you, France; thank you, Paris," he said in French. "You have given me emotions and moments that I could never have imagined as a young man. The personal satisfaction of feeling so loved in a place that means so much to you. You have given me, as a finale, the chance to reserve the Olympic torch from Zidane. You have given me a magnificent statue here at Roland Garros. You have made me feel like just another Frenchman. I can't play in front of you anymore, but my heart will always be linked to this magical place and all its people. Thank you so much for everything you have made me feel," he concluded in French.

Marc Maury then took the microphone to present a very special message from a tournament representation that offered him an emotional performance and personal thanks from the heads of all areas, bringing tears to the eyes of the Balearic native once again, who could do nothing but applaud and hug them.

There seemed to be no room for more applause on this Chatrier with a devoted crowd, who remembered the 14 titles of the Balearic player on this court, who broke down in tears with the video and who broke into thunderous applause when the other protagonists of the event appeared, first in video and then in person, the tribute raised the level of emotion, goosebumps, with the presence of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, who did not want to miss the farewell to the one who has been as much a rival as he is now a friend.

Laughter, emotions, jokes, and a conversation that will go down in the annals of tennis, and of sport. “After all these years fighting against everything, it’s incredible how everything changes with the perspective of time. You don’t know it yet, Novak, but the stress, the pressure we felt when we faced each other is very different now. Now it’s all about seeing that we achieved what we had in our goals. We showed the world that we could fight for everything, but in the best way. To be rivals, but in the best way possible. It means a lot to me that you’re here right now. You’ve given me such a hard time on the court, but I’ve enjoyed pushing myself to the limit to compete against all of you. Tennis is just a game, but you being here means everything to me. A message we’re sending to the world: a great rivalry, but friends now. Thank you so much for everything we’ve been through these years. I’m sure we’ll continue doing great things for the sport and to keep making this sport great. Thank you so, so much.”

He didn't win a match this time, but he did take home a trophy. A "legendary" trophy, which he received from Amelie Mauresmo and Gilles Moretton. And it was the president of the French Tennis Federation who unveiled a commemorative plaque beneath the clay court, bearing his handprint and name, which will forever remain on that special court. It was an act that brought tears to Moretton's eyes, and of course, to Nadal himself. To immortalize the moment, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray all came forward for a snapshot, while the Spaniard's entire family dissolved into tears.

And so, simple but wrapped in an unforgettable halo of emotion, the tribute to his legend ended, with an endless lap of the ring that no one wanted to end. The Balearic native shed tears throughout the farewell walk to his legend, which ended with his son in his arms. Little Rafael Nadal, who continues his father's legend. "Thank you, Rafa."