Rafael Nadal leaves his mark on Chatrier, and gets the farewell he deserved at Roland Garros

PARIS, France—There were several moments during Rafael Nadal’s emotional farewell tribute at Roland Garros on Sunday evening that brought the 22-time Grand Slam champion to tears: seeing both of his grandmothers in the stands with his family, and sharing the court with his biggest rivals—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray—one more time.

But the moment that seemed to affect him the most—and resonated strongly with fans, both in the stands and online—came as a surprise gesture from tournament organizers. Gilles Moretton, president of the FFT, and Amelie Mauresmo, former world No. 1 and tournament director, unveiled a new plaque etched with Nadal’s footprint commemorating his record 14 titles in Paris. It’s now a permanent fixture on the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier.

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“When I (saw) that, I thought it was going to be just for this year. Knowing that's going to be forever there, it's a present that I can't describe in words,” Nadal said, still visibly moved at his press conference later.

“For me it was and it is and it's always going to be a huge honor and very, very emotional to have this spot on the most important court of my tennis career, without a doubt.

“It's difficult to describe the feeling, but it's something that really touched me.”

It seems fitting now that the player who left the biggest mark in this tournament’s history would receive a permanent and tangible one after two decades of dominance on this surface. He already has a statue on the grounds, a rare honor for a non-French athlete. Last year, he helped open the Olympic Games in Paris and received the torch from national soccer hero Zinedine Zidane, solidifying his place in the pantheon of this country’s sports legends.

For longtime tennis fans, the plaque also brought similarly "hard to describe" feelings: A tribute like this might have seemed unimaginable even a few years ago, no matter how many Coupe des Mousquetaires he lifted.

During the ceremony Nadal reflected on his 2005 Roland Garros debut, which had been delayed a year due to an injury related to his congenital foot condition that nearly ended his career before it even started.

“That was the first tournament I approach with the feeling that something special can happen. (It) was the first slam that I was one of the candidates,” he later told press.

“I was nervous 100 percent. But at the same time, when you are 18 years old, you have plenty of energy, and in some way you are less worried about everything. You have this fresh mentality about not thinking much about the negative things that can happen, just thinking about the motivation of play your best, try your best, and winning.

“That's what I remember: a guy with plenty of energy, with an amazing passion and motivation for what I was doing.”

Here’s what I remember: That year, his fourth-round match against Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean was paused for nearly 10 minutes due to the fans’ relentless booing. The hostility only intensified with each match win—and with every passing year—stoked by the press’ disdain for his brutally effective style of play, the polar opposite the flair and artistry traditionally celebrated in France.

When Nadal suffered his first defeat in 2009, at the hands of Robin Soderling, I remember the four-time champion’s every mistake was met with jeers and whistles. Even in 2016, with nine titles to his name but in the midst of a three-year drought, he spoke candidly about the cool reception:

“This tournament is so important, such a beautiful tournament for me. Well, that’s the way it is,” he said of the crowd's hostily. “But I wish, when I’m back, they can support me a bit in key moments.”

As someone who started following Nadal during the 2007 tournament, I remember not even needing to look at the screen during his matches—just listening for the boos was enough to know who won the point. Ten years later, I was emotional seeing Nadal get misty-eyed as he clinched his record-breaking 10th Roland Garros title—”La Decima”—and finally received his first real standing ovation from the Chatrier crowd.

Having finally shown himself to be beatable, and thus human, at this venue seemed to break the spell between Nadal and the fans—as the public eventually came to embrace the legend they once resisted. All the while, Nadal never changed his game, his approach or his mindset, and he never apologized or shied away, either. He just kept on winning, chipping away at long-held records and long-held resentments until, incredibly, Nadal finished his career feeling like “one more French player.”

For me it was and it is and it's always going to be a huge honor and very, very emotional to have this spot on the most important court of my tennis career, without a doubt. It's difficult to describe the feeling, but it's something that really touched me.

“Of course, this day, at the end, to receive a tribute like I received today in Paris, in Roland Garros, in France is something very special,” he acknowledged.

“Because first of all, I am Spanish, you know. And they make me feel when I was playing here the last, let's say 12, 15 years, they make me feel like one more French player.”

And on Sunday, they gave him a proper French send-off. On the same court where he had endured the most resistance, fans were now effusive with their applause and rose quickly to their feet for the 14-time champion. They chanted his name. They packed the fans wearing white or terre-battue colored tees arranged to spell messages “❤️Rafa❤️” and “RG14”.

Nadal took it all in. With his son, Rafa Junior, on his hip, he made one final lap around Chatrier—and walked off court for the final time.

Just as his Roland Garros debut had been delayed due to injury, so too was his farewell. Last year, he suffered a first-round loss here but left the door open for a possible 2025 return. This time, there was no ambiguity, and he was finally feted in Paris the way he deserved.

WATCH: Rafael Nadal gets a proper send-off, and a place in the clay, at Roland Garros | 3 to Stream

“I am having fun,” Nadal said of his new life as a retired tennis legend. His days are now filled with family time in Mallorca, rounds of golf, fishing trips, and work for his various business ventures.

It’s been eight months since he last played tennis: “I didn't (touch) a racquet yet after my retirement … But I will.”

“I don't miss much tennis, because I feel that I gived all what I had,” Nadal added. “I arrive at the day of today with the peace that I can't be on court, (that) my body doesn't allow me to be on court. So that's all. I am (at) peace.

“I did all what I could to have the best career possible, and now I am enjoying this new phase of my life. I am sure going to be less exciting than the tennis career, because the adrenaline that the sports gives to you, I think it's impossible to find in other things in life.

“But that's don't mean I gonna be less happy. I can be happier with less adrenaline and taking care of different things.”