Merci Rafa: The French Open Put Together An Incredible Tribute To Honor The Career Of 14-Time Winner Rafael Nadal With Federer, Djokovic, and Murray Paying Their Respects In Person

Adam Pretty. Getty Images.

Today begins the 2025 French Open and with that the folks over at Roland Garros decided to honor the great Rafael Nadal in spectacular fashion. It was tough to do this last year because Rafa wasn't sure about his future and what tournaments, if any, he wanted to play moving forward. He lost in the first round here in 2024 to Alexander Zverev, but didn't announce he was retiring until the fall. There wasn't a proper goodbye, until today. 

It's tough to think of retirement/farewell ceremonies off the top of my head, but that one has to be right near the top. Obviously Rafa isn't French, he just won this tournament so many fucking times that it became his sanctuary. 112-4 career record at this venue. 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE WINS. FOUR LOSSES. 

14 championship trophies. Zero losses ever in the final. Years and years of absolute dominance. You showed up to this tournament and there was one guy to beat. He'd be minus money on the odds at the start almost every year and despite being obvious chalk he'd cruise to victories. If he got taken to more than three sets at any point it was a stunner. The man was born to play on the clay and win countless French Open titles, and that he did. 

While the ceremony was a bit hard to follow at times because I don't speak French or Spanish, it was incredibly moving. First of all, the optics were off the charts. Everyone in attendance had on their 'Merci Rafa' shirts that were laid out on every seat. At the top they spelled out '14 RG' to further hammer home his historic dominance at this joint. 

JULIEN DE ROSA. Getty Images.

Rafa immediately had tears in his eyes as the tribute video played on.

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They started playing a Federer, Djokovic, Murray thank you video before it cut out to show they were all there ready to come onto the court. 

If not for Rafa these guys all have more slam titles to their name. During his prime Fed reached the final at Roland Garros four times in five years. He lost to Rafa in every single one of them. He was a great clay court player, he just wasn't Nadal. That visual above is so funny, as if they didn't lose to him enough now they gotta come out and kiss his feet. Jokes aside, it was great seeing the big four together one more time. 

DIMITAR DILKOFF. Getty Images.

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There was one last surprise before the ceremony concluded and that was the unveiling of Rafa's footprint on the historic Philippe Chatrier court that will remain there forever. 

Can't rename the court (not to mention Barcelona's tournament already did that) so this was a unique way of honoring him forever. 

Once again, tears flowed down his face. 

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Rafa is truly one of the greatest competitors we'll ever see in sports. You don't want to take tennis seriously, that's your own problem, but Rafa was a true gladiator out there. He didn't know how to take points off and not give it his all. Prime Rafa was legit unplayable when he was on. His greatness extended past clay of course, with all-time moments at Wimbledon, the Aussie, and at the US Open, but shit was different in Paris. Incredible tribute to one of the best to ever do it. Merci Rafa.