Emotional homage in Paris: Nadal is celebrated by fans!
Emotional homage in Paris: Nadal is celebrated by fans!
Stade Roland Garros, 75012 Paris, Frankreich - On May 25, 2025, Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, was awarded moving honor in the Stade Roland Garros in Paris. A year after his last appearance at the French Open, the 38-year-old ex-professional experienced how the fans celebrated him with enthusiastic ovation. The tennis fans expressed their respect in a very special way against the backdrop of 15,000 spectators: mostly they wore brown T-shirts, while some with white T-shirts formed two hearts and the word "Rafa". This gesture reflects the immense recognition that Nadal enjoys for his success and personality in the world of tennis.
Nadal, who won the tournament a total of 14 times, is considered a formative figure of the French Open. During the ceremony, the French tennis fuel revealed its footprint on the Center Court, a permanent tribute to its outstanding achievements. Emotions were strongly expressed in the honor when Nadal, hugged his long-time rival Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, expressed his gratitude towards the audience, fans and players: "This is undoubtedly the most important tennis court of my entire career. Roland Garros is unique."
peculiarities of honor
During the moving ceremony, Nadal did not miss the opportunity to express special thanks to his uncle Toni, who played a decisive role in his career. He described Toni as the reason for his success and mentioned the challenges and joys he experienced through him. Emotional moments were inevitable when Nadal left the stadium with tears in his eyes, holding his son Rafa Junior in his arms. It was a sight that illustrated the deep connection between the star player and his family.After his last match at the French Open last year, in which he lost to Alexander Zverev, a brief review of Nadal's career, which includes 22 Grand Slam titles, the last three years ago in Paris. Despite his resignation of international competitions, Nadal marked his return for the Olympic Games, where he left Novak Djokovic in the second round. His farewell to professional tennis took place in November 2024 at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga.
The influence of Nadal on tennis
The honor of Nadal in Paris is not only a tribute to his success, but also on the influence that he has exerted on the world of tennis. Jannik Sinner, the current world rankings, praised Nadal as a model and praised his special way on and off the square. These honors underline how very Nadal continues to live in the history and memory of sport, the development of which goes back to the 12th century when tennis found its origins in the French game "Jeu de Paume".
The seriousness and history of tennis finds a new dimension through such figures as Nadal. The development of the game, from the first codification of the rules to the standards and technological innovations applicable today, remains an important part of the tennis history, which has produced numerous legends, including Rod Laver, Martina Navrailova and Serena Williams.
This year's honor from Nadal is also supplemented by a special exhibition that offers tennis fans the opportunity to learn more about his impressive career and to remember the countless unforgettable moments that he has given the sport.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Stade Roland Garros, 75012 Paris, Frankreich |
| Quellen | |