French Open 2025: Rafael Nadal is celebrated at the tournament he won a record 14 times

PARIS AP Rafael Nadal stepped out into Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday to the sort of unending adulation thunderous applause and chants of his nickname Rafa that greeted him for years as he accumulated a record French Open championships only this time he was being honored at a farewell ceremony Thousands of spectators gave Nadal who retired last year a standing ovation as he strode through the doorway that leads from the locker room to the playing surface he ruled like no one ever has in the history of tennis Instead of that familiar headband or the tape on his fingers or the capri pants he made famous early in his career Nadal was wearing a dark suit and dark dress shirt He smiled broadly and waved at the crowd which seemed to occupy just about every seat in the -capacity venue Nadal sheds tears during his French Open tribute This all came years to the day since Nadal made his debut in Chatrier at age with a second-round supremacy As a highlight video began playing on the screens Sunday showing those lefty bullwhip forehands those pumped fists accompanying shouts of Vamos and the relentless racing to every inch of the court Nadal bit his lower lip and appeared on the verge of tears which did flow eventually His voice cracked and he sniffled while delivering a speech in French then English and then his native Spanish This is tough he began in French Good evening everyone I don t know where to start after playing on this court for the past years Winning losing but especially being moved every time I ve had the chance to be here Nadal s career French Open record was - Mostly winning of discipline His career record at the French Open was - That s why a larger-than-life steel statue of Nadal was installed on the Roland-Garros grounds while he was still an proceeding athlete He went - in the event s finals reliably held in Chatrier which he called without a doubt the preponderance significant court of my tennis career Nadal finished with Grand Slam titles in all including at least two at each of the sport s most of prestigious events Nadal who turns on June and played his final competitive match at the Davis Cup last November thanked tournament organizers His main coach Toni who also is his uncle Other members of his entourage His parents His wife who stood in the front row behind one of the baselines holding their -year-old son And his greatest rivals Roger Federer Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray who later all walked out together to join Nadal on the court and hug him Federer Djokovic and Murray appear at Nadal s farewell ceremony We proved the world that we can fight as hard as doable but being good colleagues and respecting each other very well And for me it means a lot that you are all here Nadal advised the players with whom he was grouped as the Big Four of men s tennis You gave me several hard times on court honestly but I really enjoyed pushing myself to the limit every single day to compete with all of you Fans received T-shirts matching the rust color of the clay on the court below with MERCI RAFA in white capital letters and Sunday s date stamped on the front Even Carlos Alcaraz the -year-old Spaniard who won last year s French Open and is considered Nadal s heir apparent wore a rust-colored shirt while in the stands for the ceremony Depending on where they were sitting a few people instead received white shirts that when seen together spelled out particular messages including RG next to a representation of the La Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy awarded to the men s champion at Roland-Garros Another part of the upper deck established RAFA between two hearts A plaque was placed on the court in the French Open s main stadium Toward the end of the proceedings which closed with yet another ovation Nadal was shown a new plaque that s been placed near the stands on the side of the court opposite the chair umpire s stand It is a white rectangle which bears his footprint his name and a sketch of the tournament trophy He certainly left a mark on everyone who ever faced him or watched him compete in that stadium And now that stadium will forever carry his mark Thank you France Thank you Paris You have given me emotions and moments I could never have imagined You can never know how gratifying it is to be appreciated in the place that matters largest part You made me feel like a Frenchman Nadal mentioned I can no longer play in front of you anymore but my heart and my memories will inevitably be linked to this magical place