It’s not like Spain didn’t have a rich legacy at the Roland Garros before Rafael Nadal came along. For the ones who don’t know, Spain had its first French Open Champion in 1961. And they have had numerous champions before Nadal started his dynastic rule in 2005. But that’s the thing. Nobody set the Iberian nation apart like the 22-time Grand Slam Champion.

Being a 14-time Roland Garros Champion, he is the only man to have won the Major in double digits. The closest to him is Bjorn Borg, who has won it 6 times. And now, Rafael Nadal has another achievement, which makes him the first Spanish athlete to be bestowed with the tribute. The historic University of Salamanca, the oldest standing university in Spain, has awarded the 39-year-old with an honorary doctorate.

The big news was shared by the tennis legend’s X account on October 3 (translated from Spanish): “Pride, gratitude, and joy. It is an immense honor to have been the first athlete awarded an Honorary Doctorate by this university, which has left such a profound mark on the culture, society, and thought of Spain.”

Further continuing, the tweet read, “Thanks to @usal and all of Salamanca for the love I’ve received. This day will always stay with me and encourages me to remain faithful to the values ​​that sport has taught me.”

To be the first athlete to be recognized with this honor truly tells you the indelible mark the Spaniard has left as a sportsperson. And when you line up the accolades, it’s not that surprising to see why. Nadal also brought Spain its first Olympic gold in tennis when he won the singles event in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After that, he also won another gold in the doubles event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

His revered place in Spanish as well as French sports saw him be the torchbearer for the Olympic Torch’s final leg during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. In fact, this recognition by the University of Salamanca adds to the high honor of being granted the noble title of marquis by none other than King Felipe VI of Spain in June 2025. The royal tribute was an acknowledgement of the tennis legend’s legacy, which is a “source of pride for Spain and a permanent reference point for values that should inspire our society,” as the palace said, according to ESPN.

But his impact on Spanish life didn’t just come on the court. His humanitarian side saw him open his tennis academy center to the victims of the Mallorca flood in 2018 for shelter. He even contributed one million euros for those affected in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, a town in Mallorca, his native place, as the flood devastated the town, leaving many dead. For his contributions, in October 2020, Rafael Nadal was granted admission to the Royal Order of Sporting Merit with the rank of Grand Cross by the King.

We know the Spaniard has more to add to his stellar sporting journey. In fact, retirement has barely slowed him down.

Rafael Nadal has been busy since his retirement

The Spaniard played his last pro match on November 19, 2024, in the Davis Cup. Is coaching on the agenda next for the God of Clay? Well, not that we know of as of now. And definitely not when he is still enjoying his playing days. “I love sports in general and my life has always been linked to sport,” Nadal confessed candidly in a podcast.

And he has had a particular favorite. “But I was especially fond of golf when I was a professional because it was a sport that allowed me to do something that I enjoyed outside of tennis and with a minimal risk of injury.” But now that he doesn’t have to compete on the courts, he can explore everything that he loves. And that includes soccer.

“I have now played soccer several times,” Rafael Nadal had shared. “After fifteen years without playing, I have become bad. I play what I can. Normally a striker.” He partakes in soccer matches from time to time at his academy, and if you saw his moves, you would know how naturally sports come to him. And his competitive energy will always be something that we will dearly miss on the court.