Rafael Nadal, who dominated the court for 23 years, officially hung up his racket last year. His retirement announcement in October was a tough pill for fans to swallow. He bid farewell at his final tennis match during the Davis Cup in November. Known as the King of Clay, it only felt right that his farewell matched his legendary status. After all, his name is now synonymous with the French Open. It’s hard to imagine the tournament without him. What can you give a player who gave so much?

Roland Garros found the perfect solution. After his farewell at the Davis Cup—a sad moment after Spain’s early loss to the Netherlands—Nadal said his journey had come “full circle.” He referred to his first big professional win: the 2004 Davis Cup final, where Spain beat the USA. But that wasn’t enough.

He had a ceremony on Court Philippe-Chatrier before 15,000 fans wearing “Merci Rafa” T-shirts. Unlike his last farewell, this time legends Andy Murray, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic cheered him on, making it personal. Wearing a black suit and shirt, Nadal stood alone amid the scene of his greatest triumphs. A video montage of his victories played on the big screen. At the end, he received a touching gift: a beautiful trophy with the word ‘LEGEND’ on it, listing all his French Open wins and topped with his signature—something fans have long sought. Isn’t that heartwarming?

He began his unprecedented dominance with his first win in 2005. He followed that with four straight victories through 2008, often overcoming his rival Roger Federer. After a rare early exit in 2009, Nadal bounced back, capturing five more titles from 2010 to 2014. He then added wins in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, securing his tenth title—“La Decima”—in 2017. His most recent triumph in 2022 brought his record to an astonishing 14 French Open championships.

Technically, he now has 15 trophies from Roland Garros! Emotions ran high as he addressed the crowd in French, English, and Spanish, saying, “This is tough. I’ve been playing on this court for last 20 years.” It truly has been a battle for the Spanish maestro. To commemorate his legacy further, they added a plaque of his footprint on the side of the court to remain there forever, even in his absence. Seeing the gesture he said, “I thought it would be for today or for the duration of this year’s tournament, but when they told me it would be forever, I can’t describe the emotions I felt.”

What makes his journey even more inspiring is that despite his unparalleled dominance, Nadal’s journey was marked by physical struggles and setbacks. These challenges often cast doubt on his ability to continue. Yet he defied expectations time and again. He won 112 of his 116 matches here. Even when struggling, he powered through.

One of the most remarkable moments was at the 2022 French Open. Nadal battled chronic pain in his left foot from Müller-Weiss syndrome, a bone deformation. He openly spoke about the debilitating pain throughout the tournament. He needed multiple injections to numb his foot before matches. Despite this, he overcame top opponents to claim his record 14th French Open title. His resilience was extraordinary.

As he said, “Where I am standing I enjoyed, I suffered, I won and I lost, I lived many emotions on that court – without a doubt the most important tennis court of my career.” Now, as Nadal steps into a new chapter after hanging up the racket, his dedication to the sport will never be forgotten.

This honor followed a second award for his sportsmanship. Proving that even in his absence, the Spaniard will continue to impact tennis.

Rafael Nadal receives the Laureus Sporting Icon Award for the second time

Last month, Rafa was honored with the Laureus Sporting Icon Award on April 21 in Madrid. The two-time Laureus World Sportsman of the Year (2011 and 2021) retired last November after representing Spain in the Davis Cup. Over his incredible career, he won 92 titles and racked up 1,080 tour-level match wins. He also spent 209 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings—the sixth-most weeks in history since 1973.

Nadal was clearly moved by the moment. “I don’t know how to start, honestly. I didn’t prepare for this amazing moment, talking in front of all of you,” he said. “But a lot of you have been sportspeople that inspired [me] since I was a kid and having the chance to talk in front of you today is something very, very special.” The ceremony was full of star power, with Edwin Moses introducing Nadal and Simone Biles handing him the trophy.

Wrapping up his speech, Nadal shared some heartfelt advice: “Congrats for Simone [Biles] and the rest of you for amazing careers. Wishing you the best of luck in the future. The ones that keep competing, enjoy the moment, because the professional careers are short. But just try hard, enjoy and appreciate every single moment that you have the chance to enjoy this beautiful world of sport. Keep going.” Wise words from a true champion.

With his legacy now permanently etched on a court at Roland Garros, it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to the player who gifted us so many iconic clay-court moments. But one thing’s for sure: Roland Garros will continue to be known as Rafael Nadal’s turf. His record for the most French Open titles in history still stands tall, and it’s hard to imagine anyone ever coming close. What do you think?