Court Philippe Chatrier has witnessed greatness countless times, but few moments will match the poignancy of Sunday evening, when Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay, bid an emotional farewell to his beloved Roland Garros. The 14-time French Open champion was honoured in a touching ceremony, surrounded by his greatest rivals and closest friends—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
The Fab Four of men’s tennis—more commonly known as the Big Four—rarely share the same court these days, but Nadal’s farewell drew them all together again. Federer, who retired in 2022, and Djokovic and Murray, both still active at 38, made the journey to Paris to celebrate a man who defined an era on clay.
“After all these years fighting for everything, it’s unbelievable how time changes the perspective of things,” a visibly emotional Nadal, 37, told the crowd and his peers. “We built amazing rivalries… we fought hard for titles but were good colleagues and respected one another.”
The moment was steeped in nostalgia. Federer, who once held hands with Nadal in tears during his own farewell at the Laver Cup, embraced his longtime rival first. Djokovic, fresh off his 100th career title just hours earlier, and Murray, who flew in from London and returned the same day, followed with heartfelt hugs.
Murray’s presence was particularly symbolic, highlighting the depth of their friendship since their junior days. “What he went on to achieve was amazing, particularly here,” Murray said. “I genuinely think that this record of 14 titles here will stand the test of time.”
There were lighter moments too. Nadal recounted a playful text from Murray following Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid in the Champions League: “He messaged me: ‘Hey Rafa, I haven’t spoken to you in a while – just checking in to make sure you’re OK.’ It took me five seconds to realise what I was reading. That British sense of humour!”
The celebration on Chatrier was a masterstroke of symbolism. Every spectator received a terracotta-coloured T-shirt, turning the 15,000-seater stadium into a living homage to the clay that Nadal ruled. Chants of “Rafa! Rafa! Rafa!” echoed long before he stepped onto the court, and applause thundered for over a minute when he finally emerged, suited and sombre.
Current stars Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek stood and applauded, representing both the present and the future inspired by Nadal’s legacy. Nadal, fighting back tears, paid tribute in Spanish, French and English to his family—especially his uncle Toni, who coached him to 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.
As a final gesture, French Open organisers unveiled a silver plaque featuring Nadal’s footprint beside the Chatrier net post—a fitting tribute to a player whose dominance at Roland Garros may never be repeated.
“It was perfect,” Nadal said of the ceremony. “I could not have expected a more emotional day. For a guy like me, who does not like these sort of things… I enjoyed it a lot.”