For tennis fans today, the names Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray are as famous as John, Paul, George, and Ringo are to Beatles fans. These four players, known as the Big Four, have been superstars in tennis for many years. But now, they don’t get to hang out together as much because Nadal just retired at the end of last year.
On Sunday, the French Open held a heartfelt goodbye for Nadal, who has won the tournament 14 times. It was a big moment when he got to see his friends again on the famous Court Philippe Chatrier.
Nadal, who is 37 years old, shared his feelings with his friends. “It’s hard to believe how much time changes everything,” he said, feeling emotional. “When we were rivals, there was so much pressure. But now that I’m done playing, it feels different.”
He talked about how they had great rivalries but also respected each other. “I loved pushing myself to compete with all of you,” he added.
As Nadal left the court, he held his son, Rafael Junior, close. Federer was the first to give him a warm hug, followed by Djokovic and Murray. Djokovic had just won his 100th title the day before, and Murray joked that he thought he would be there as Djokovic’s coach!
Murray traveled all the way from London just to be there for Nadal. “What he achieved is amazing, especially here at the French Open,” he said. “I don’t think anyone will break his record. He’s a fantastic player and a great guy.”
Nadal shared a funny story about his friendship with Murray. After a soccer match where Arsenal beat Real Madrid, Murray sent him a message checking in. Nadal laughed, saying, “I thought, ‘He’s such a nice guy!’ But I didn’t text him back when PSG beat Arsenal!”
Nadal played most of his 115 matches at the French Open on Court Philippe Chatrier, winning all 14 of his titles there. Six months after his last match, he returned for this special farewell.
The crowd was filled with fans wearing T-shirts that matched the clay court’s color, creating a beautiful scene. Before Nadal even arrived, fans started chanting, “Rafa! Rafa! Rafa!”
When Nadal finally walked out in a suit, everyone stood up and cheered for over a minute. He was so moved that he had to bite his lip to hold back tears.
After watching a video of his greatest moments at the French Open, Nadal thanked his family, who were sitting in the front row, and the fans. He spoke in Spanish, French, and English, but he couldn’t hold back his tears when he mentioned his uncle Toni, who taught him tennis when he was just three years old.
At the end of the ceremony, there was one more surprise. The tournament director and the president of the French Tennis Federation revealed a silver plaque with Nadal’s footprint next to the net.
“It was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a more emotional day,” Nadal said. “I’m not someone who likes being the center of attention, but I really enjoyed it.”
And with that, the Big Four shared a moment that tennis fans will remember forever.