Nadal and his eternal footprints at Roland Garros

(NLDO) - Roland Garros held a solemn ceremony to honor Nadal, with the highlight being the footprints and the championship trophy printed on the main Philippe Chatrier court.

Rafael Nadal was officially honored as a living legend of Roland Garros, when the organizers permanently engraved his footprint on Philippe Chatrier center court in an emotional ceremony on the night of May 25 and the morning of May 26. Next to the footprint was a special Roland Garros trophy, with the number 14 symbolizing his 14 victories at the tournament.

In an emotional moment at the ceremony, the President of the French Tennis Federation, Gilles Moretton, personally brushed away the red soil on the boundary line, revealing the image at the end of the ceremony. With the surprise, and with the majestic music playing, the host solemnly declared: "Nadal, your footprints and your records will forever be present on this court."

This made Nadal unable to hold back his emotions, wiping away tears as three great rivals of the past - Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray stepped out one by one, giving him respectful and affectionate congratulations.

Photo frame with Nadal's footprint, trophy and 14 championships on the main court

With Nadal, from 2005 to 2022, he has won all 14 finals at Philippe Chatrier, setting a record not only at Roland Garros, but also a great milestone in the history of world tennis. Even Djokovic, who holds the record at the Australian Open, needs four more championships to catch up with the Spaniard's historic achievement.

"I first came to Roland Garros in 2004 when I was still on crutches due to injury, just wanting to sit in the stands and see the court. A year later, my dream came true when I played here. Roland Garros shaped my career, it was where I truly understood the meaning of passion and fighting" - Nadal shared.

Nadal also paid tribute to his opponents, especially Federer, Djokovic and Murray, who together created the golden era of tennis. "Without you, I would not have reached the top like today. That fierce competition helps us get better every day. The wonderful thing is that today, we can still stand here together."

"Big 4" in the same photo frame at Nadal's honor ceremony

In his 10-minute speech, Nadal did not forget to mention his uncle and first coach Toni Nadal, as well as express his gratitude to his family who have accompanied him throughout the journey. Closing the ceremony, Nadal held his young son in his arms, walked hand in hand into the Philippe Chatrier tunnel, and continued to receive warm hugs from colleagues such as Carlos Alcaraz and living Spanish basketball legend Pau Gasol.

As Nadal left the court, the tournament continued with young names such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud and Francisco Cerundolo competing, aiming for this season's championship.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nadal-va-dau-chan-vinh-cuu-o-roland-garros-196250526203516565.htm