Rafael Nadal is being celebrated during a ceremony in the main stadium of the French Open on Day 1 of the tournament.

Retired star Rafael Nadal honored at French Open with "Merci Rafa" shirts and presence of rivals Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros champion whose record may never be surpassed, was honored by tennis rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

A new plaque on Court Philippe-Chatrier honors his unmatched legacy in Paris—and the evolution of his relationship with its crowd.

Retiring is the hardest thing in sports, especially for the greatest athletes. There are overly long goodbyes, staying well past one’s expiration date, awkward un-retirements. Father Time remains undefeated,

Not even Rafael Nadal, a man accustomed to the brightest lights and biggest stages, saw this moment coming. The post Rafael Nadal Admits to 'Crying' as Olympics Made Terrible Mistake at Paris 2024 appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Seeing Nadal, Federer and Murray all retire in the last few years has prompted Djokovic to think more about his own mortality.

The 14-time champion returned to his kingdom and received a memorable tribute, the one he fully deserved. Nadal described it as the most emotional moment of his illustrious career. Rafa felt overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and respect from fans, peers and organizers, who did everything to make this day memorable for him.

On the opening day of the French Open, the tennis world paused in reverence as Rafael Nadal returned to the clay court he made legendary. The post Rafael Nadal’s Roland Garros Goodbye Was Perfect Except for the Olympic Ghost Named Djokovic appeared first on EssentiallySports.

With Rafael Nadal's retirement and Iga Swiatek's struggles, the French Open enters a period of uncertainty. Several contenders, including Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Novak Djokovic, vie for the men's title.