During a press conference after Rafael Nadal's heartfelt farewell ceremony at Roland Garros, a light-hearted moment emerged when Andy Murray shared a playful text he had sent to Nadal following Arsenal's victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
As Nadal recounted, "My good friend Andy, we were not in touch for a while. The day that Arsenal beat Real Madrid, when the match just finished, after one second, he text me a message, telling me, 'Hey, Rafa, haven't spoken to you in a while. Just checking in to make sure you are okay.'"
Initially interpreting the message as a genuine check-in, Nadal quickly realized the jest, noting, "After five seconds, I said, 'This British sense of humour.' By the way, I didn't text him back when PSG beat Arsenal."
This exchange highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect among the "Big Four" of tennis—Nadal, Murray, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic—who were all present at the ceremony. Nadal expressed his gratitude for their presence.
The ceremony also featured a tribute to Nadal's unparalleled success at Roland Garros, where he secured 14 French Open titles. A permanent plaque displaying his footprint was unveiled on Court Philippe-Chatrier, commemorating his legacy.
Roland Garros 2025: Rafael Nadal In Tears Amid Touching Tribute To 'King Of Clay' At Philippe-Chatrier Court; Watch Video
Retired Tennis great Rafael Nadal couldn't control his emotions as he was paid a touching tribute at the Roland Garros 2025 on May 25 (Sunday) at the Philippe-Chatrier court. With a video getting played to pay tribute to a glittering French Open career and the spectators clapping, the Spainard couldn't control his tears as a clip of the same emerged on social media.
Known as the 'King of Clay', the veteran Tennis star holds the record for winning the most French Open titles among men and women in history with 14, the last of which came in 2022. He lifted the coveted trophy consecutively between 2005-2008, 2010-2014 and 2017-2020. The 38-year-old retired from professional tennis in November 2024, citing continuous injury problems. In all, Nadal retired after winning 22 grand slams.
Speaking during the monumental occasion, the 38-year-old remembered how he was keen to come back in 2005 after struggling from a foot injury the year before. He went on to remember his battles against Richard Gasquet, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, claiming how much the tournament means to him.
