Rafael Nadal was rightfully honoured at the French Open, with fellow legends Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray attending his farewell ceremony.
Nadal teased a comeback to tennis at his farewell ceremony, which included tributes from many within the game.
Iga Swiatek and Boris Becker were left emotional at Nadal’s tribute, with the Spaniard holding a record 14 French Open titles.
The 2025 French Open got underway on the same day, with Djokovic the only player among the four legends still playing.
The ATP number six takes on American Mackenzie McDonald in round one, having won the Grand Slam three times during his career.
Rafael Nadal messages Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray
Nadal tops the pile with 14, followed by the six of Bjorn Borg and the four of Henri Cochet, with Djokovic among a handful of players on three.
The Spaniard was left emotional as he reunited with his former rivals at court Philippe Chatrier, and he has now thanked the legendary figures for helping make the day so special.
Nadal shared images of himself with Federer, Djokovic and Murray in Paris on Instagram, along with the caption: “Thank you guys. From the bottom of my heart!”
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray Grand Slam titles
Nadal helped form the iconic Big Three alongside Federer and Djokovic, with the Serbian now the last man standing.
They dominated men’s tennis for several years, with Murray falling short of their heroics simply because of their presence.
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The Scot would have undoubtedly enjoyed much more Grand Slam success if not for the Big Three, who often beat him at the very last hurdle.
But all four are hugely respected in the sport and indeed the wider sporting world, with their remarkable achievements – including a combined 69 Grand Slams – having gone down in tennis history.
| Titles | Player | Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open | Years |
| 24 | Novak Djokovic | 10 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2008–2023 |
| 22 | Rafael Nadal | 2 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 2005–2022 |
| 20 | Roger Federer | 6 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2003–2018 |
| 3 | Andy Murray | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2012–2016 |
Whether such feats can be replicated by the current players on the ATP Tour remains to be seen, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner certainly having the best chance of doing so at this moment in time.
Djokovic meanwhile cannot be discounted despite his downturn in recent years, with the Serbian eyeing a record 25th Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open.
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