Nadal, after his tribute at Roland Garros: "It has been the most emotional moment of my career"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 25 May 2025 | 22.06

Nadal, after his tribute at Roland Garros: "It has been the most emotional moment of my career." Photo: Getty Images

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Rafa Nadal had a farewell befitting his legend: unforgettable. The Mallorcan experienced a spectacular and heartfelt tribute in the place where he lifted 14 titles. The Philippe Chatrier was dressed for the occasion with special shirts, and the organization managed to touch everyone's hearts with a very simple act. The speech by the 22-time Grand Slam champion gave chills, but the entrance of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray brought a wave of nostalgia and melancholy to a moment that ended with Nadal's mark forever on the clay of the Parisian grand slam.

And after this perfect farewell from Roland Garros, where even Nadal couldn't hold back the tears, the former tennis player held a press conference where he talked about the great tribute he received. He also took the opportunity to share his thoughts on his rivalry with the Big 4, his son, his new life after retirement, and the affection he has always received from the French.

His emotion upon seeing the plaque that will permanently be on the Philippe Chatrier

"When I saw it, I thought it would only be for this year. When they told me it would be forever, I can't describe my emotions. It's a great honor. It moved me to know that I would be present on the most important court of my career."

About the Big 4 rivalry

"It has been a way to understand sports and life. Wanting to beat each other with great demand, but without the need to hate the rival. It's a legacy beyond the results. I trust it serves for a less divided and radicalized world in many ways. There's no need to hate your rival with all your might to beat them. We always understood that it was a game."

His son still doesn't grasp the breadth of his father's legacy

"I have no illusion that he understands it. Obviously, he will, but it won't be me who explains it to him. I'm not that kind of father, I'm not someone who talks much about myself and what I've achieved. Whenever I came home, I acted normal and never tried to explain to my son that his father was a phenomenon at something. Because I don't see myself that way, I would say I have been an important athlete in the history of sports because of the things I've achieved, but beyond that, I have no interest in him seeing me in any particular light."

He feels like an honorary Frenchman

"One feels especially grateful for all the love and respect shown to me in this country and in this city, and I have always loved them from day one. Feeling that affection, that respect, and that reciprocal love is hard to put into words because being recognized in the most important place for oneself is very special. And in that sense, I have achieved it, and it is a great personal satisfaction to have that piece of me forever in the Philippe Chatrier is something that excites me just thinking about it. I can only thank everyone for everything. It was an unforgettable day, in every way, perfect. It was a perfect ceremony, the one I had dreamed of. It has been the most emotional moment of my career. It has been perfect, and that's how I feel."

He learned more from victories than from defeats

"My losses here didn't teach me much. I learned more from the victories than the defeats because I was always self-critical enough to know that all my victories would help me understand what I needed to improve. Defeats bring disappointment and put you in your place. What defeat gives you is to value and set expectations for everything you were achieving and also allows you to appreciate everything you have accomplished."

He enjoys his new life without tennis

"It's not that I don't miss tennis and it's not that I got tired of tennis. But there came a point where my body couldn't take it anymore and wouldn't allow me to continue doing what I had been doing all these years. So when the day of my retirement came, I closed a chapter in my life. I'm not a person with a big ego that needs these kinds of tributes, which I loved and was perfect. I live well in the day-to-day and in anonymity, and that's why I have always lived in my home. I always had a life beyond tennis that fulfilled me, and I had the intuition that when the day of my retirement came, the transition would be smooth. It's real, I'm fine, I'm happy, and enjoying other things. I still watch tennis, and it doesn't hurt me to see Rome, Monte Carlo, and Roland Garros. It's a book that closed with great satisfaction. If Novak wins Roland Garros, it won't bother me one bit, something that in the past I would have preferred not to happen."

He just wanted a tribute at Roland Garros

"It was decided that there wouldn't be any other acts before because we knew that Roland Garros wanted to do something special six or seven months ago and reserved everything for this day. We believe this tournament deserved the opportunity to do what it did, and it was fair. It has been the most important place in my career, and my retirement tribute rightfully had to be here. I think both Roland Garros and I deserved to have today reserved, for them to have the privilege of doing it, and it was 100% the right decision."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nadal, tras su homenaje en Roland Garros: "Ha sido el momento más emocionante de mi carrera"