Eight months after having retired from professional tennis, Rafael Nadal He was honored in the place that consecrated him as one of the best of all time: the stadium Philippe Chatrierwhere he raised 14 times the title of Roland Garros. “Without a doubt, the most important court of my tennis career”, Said the Spaniard, visibly excited, adding:” Here I have enjoyed, suffered, cattle, lost. “In honor of all his achievements, A plaque was placed with his name in the center of the court.
The event also was attended by Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak DjokovicNadal’s three main adversaries throughout his career. The Spanish thanked him to accompany him in this tribute and said: “We have all fulfilled our dreams. We have taught the world that we can be rivals and colleagues with respect at the same time. I enjoyed taking me to the limit to compete against you. That the three are here means everything”
This Sunday was the beginning of ROLAD Garros and for the first time it will be played after Nadal’s retirement, the player who changed forever the story of the France Open. Of the 18 times that the tournament played, he shouted champion in 14 of them. Even more shocking, his career record there was 112-4, that includes 14-0 in the late event.
His last participation was last year, when he fell in the first round before Alexander Zverevmonths before finally saying goodbye to his career.
The last time he won the most prestigious brick dust tournament in the world was in 2022, where he won with authority in the final against Casper Rudd After having left Djokovic on the way. This was also the last of the 22 Grand Slam tournaments that he raised in his career.
Exciting tribute to Rafael Nadal in ROLAD GARROS
In the tribute of this afternoon, there were thousands of spectators who watched the Manacorí for the last time entering the Philippe Chatrier. The former player wore a black suit and from the first moment he showed his emotion. While on the screens of the court a video was reproduced that showed its main feats in Paris, Nadal bit his lower lip and was on the verge of tears. Later, his voice broke and sobbed as he pronounced a speech of thanks in French, then in English and then in his native Spanish.
“This is difficult”, He began, in French.“ Good night to all. I don’t know where to start after playing on this court during the last 20 years. Win, lose, but above all excite myself every time I have had the opportunity to be here, ”he added.
Nadal tribute in ROLAD GARROS.JPG
In turn, he thanked the public for his “infinite gratitude” and the organization for having given him “the opportunity to say goodbye in the most important place of his career.”
He also referred to his family, his two grandmothers, who were in the gallery, his wife who, pregnant, held his son in his arms, and his parents and sister, whom he thanked to have transmitted “values of respect.”
“Thank you France, thanks Paris,” he cried, starting an ovation from the public. “You have given me Emotions and moments that I would never have imagined, you cannot know to what extent it is exciting to feel loved in the place you tell the most for you“
Nadal ROLAD GARROS.jpg
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
