Rafael Nadal bid an emotional farewell to tennis at Roland Garros on Sunday, the venue where he cemented his legacy as the 'King of Clay'.
The 38-year-old Spaniard was visibly moved throughout his retirement ceremony at the French Open, where he won an astonishing 14 of his 22 Grand Slam singles titles.
Nadal's dominance at the Paris venue has been unparalleled, with an incredible record of 112 wins against just four defeats throughout his career.
The ceremony came seven months after Nadal played the final match of his illustrious career. Roland Garros was the tournament that came to define the Spaniard's remarkable journey in tennis, making it a fitting location for his official farewell to the sport that he helped transform.
Rafael Nadal bid an emotional farewell to tennis at Roland Garros on Sunday, the venue where he cemented his legacy as the 'King of Clay'
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In a poignant moment that brought together tennis's greatest era, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier to honour their great rival.
The trio received a rapturous reception from the crowd as they joined Nadal for this historic occasion.
The presence of the 'Big Four' together marked a significant moment for the sport, with these four players having redefined dominance in men's tennis.
Between them, they have amassed an extraordinary 69 Grand Slam titles, forever changing the landscape of the game.
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Rafa Nadal leaves his Roland Garros tribute with his son in his arm and a smile on his face.
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The sight of all four champions together on the clay where Nadal had been most dominant provided a fitting tribute to one of sport's greatest competitive chapters.
During his speech, Nadal reflected on how time has transformed the perspective on their fierce rivalries.
"After all these years fighting for everything it's unbelievable how the time changes perspective of everything," Nadal said to his fellow champions.
He acknowledged the changing dynamics of their relationships as their competitive careers concluded.
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Rafael Nadal won the French Open 14 times during his remarkable career
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"All of the nerves, pressure, strange feelings you feel when we see each other when we are rivals, it's completely different when you finish your career," he continued.
The Spaniard celebrated how they had all achieved their dreams while maintaining respect for one another.
"We showed the world that we can fight as hard as possible, but being good colleagues and respect each other very well. And for me, it means a lot that you are all here," he added.
Nadal admitted his rivals had given him "some hard times on court" but that he enjoyed pushing himself to compete with them.
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In his heartfelt address, Nadal emphasised that tennis is "just a game" despite the intensity with which they competed.
"What it means for me that all of you are here is everything," he told his rivals, highlighting the significance of their presence.
"It's a great message to the world that we can be good friends even if we had the best rivalries."
The Spanish champion also looked to the future, expressing his belief that they would continue to contribute positively to tennis beyond their playing careers.
"Our legacy is there, but we need to keep building things that helps tennis keep growing. I'm sure we will make beautiful things together," he said.
Nadal concluded his emotional tribute with gratitude: "Thank you very much for everything. And all the best."
