‘The Big Four’ in tennis is entering a new chapter.
After decades of dominance, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and now Rafael Nadal have hung up their rackets and entered retirement. Novak Djokovic is the only active player from the quartet.
That’s why when all four legends are spotted in one place, at a Grand Slam no less, it’s a momentous occasion.
That was the scene on Sunday, as Rafael Nadal was honored at Roland-Garros in front of a packed audience.
After a tribute video, the doors opened at Court Philippe-Chatrier and revealed Nadal’s three rivals and friends walking on the clay.
The 14-time French Open champion greeted all three of his former foes before taking the mic and sharing some thoughts.
“After all these years fighting for everything it’s unbelievable how the time changes perspective of everything. You don’t know yet Novak. Probably you know already Andy. With Roger we have talked about it a couple times. All of the nerves, pressure, strange feelings you feel when we see each other when we are rivals.. it’s completely different when you finish your career,” Nadal said.
Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray surprised Rafael Nadal at his Roland-Garros farewell ceremony 🥹👏
4 TENNIS LEGENDS. 🎾💯 pic.twitter.com/yjSCzGFuJv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 25, 2025
It was a breathtaking moment in a beautiful tribute. The afternoon ended with Nadal’s footprint being etched into Court Philippe-Chatrier where he made history.
Nadal emotional seeing his footprint added to the #RolandGarros clay court 🧡🥹 pic.twitter.com/RBibomywnT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 25, 2025
Although Nadal is the “King of Clay’ he didn’t do it alone. The competition against his three former rivals pushed him to better and to have them at the ceremony was a full circle moment.
“At the end, now, it’s all about being happy about everything that we achieved. At the end, all of us achieved our dreams,” Nadal added.
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