Merci Rafa: French Open Bids Emotional Farewell To The King Of Clay

Few athletes are as closely tied to a single event as Rafael Nadal is to the French Open. The Spanish legend, who claimed a record 14 titles on the red clay of Roland Garros, was honored in an emotional farewell ceremony on Sunday as the tournament paid tribute to its greatest champion.

Now 38, Nadal retired from professional tennis last year. But his legacy at the French Open was celebrated in a moving ceremony at Court Philippe-Chatrier, the very stage where he built his legend.

As Nadal stepped onto the court, thousands of fans rose to their feet, many wearing red shirts emblazoned with “Merci Rafa.” A montage of his greatest moments at Roland Garros played on the big screens, bringing tears to the eyes of the 22-time Grand Slam winner.

"This is tough," Nadal began, speaking in French. "I don’t know where to start after playing on this court for the past 20 years—winning, losing, but always feeling deeply moved every time I had the chance to be here."

Switching between English and Spanish, Nadal reflected on his two-decade journey that began at Roland Garros when he was just 18. He retires with a staggering 112–4 record at the French Open, having won all 14 finals he played on Court Philippe-Chatrier—a venue he called “without a doubt, the most important tennis court of my career.”

Nadal’s voice cracked with emotion as he thanked those closest to him, including his longtime coach and uncle, Toni Nadal.

Adding to the poignant atmosphere, three of Nadal’s greatest rivals—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray—joined him on court. The four icons embraced, symbolizing an era of tennis defined by fierce battles and mutual respect.

“We showed the world that we could fight as hard as possible, but still be good colleagues and respect each other deeply,” Nadal said. “You gave me some tough moments on court, but I loved pushing myself to the limit every day to compete with all of you.”

The nearly 50-minute tribute concluded with Nadal being presented with a bronze plaque of his footprint, which will be permanently displayed at the court. He was then joined by his two-year-old son, waving to the crowd one final time as a player.

“I may no longer play in front of you, but my heart and memories will forever be tied to this magical place,” Nadal said.

The 2025 French Open officially began Sunday with first-round matches and no major surprises yet. On Monday, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz—seen by many as Nadal’s heir apparent—takes on Italian Giulio Zeppieri. Alcaraz, 22, was in the stands on Sunday, paying tribute to the legend who inspired his career.

Roland Garros may one day crown a new King of Clay, but there will only ever be one Rafael Nadal.