“Oh, won’t you stay with me? ‘Cause you’re all I need. This ain’t love, it’s clear to see, But darling, stay with me,” the iconic chorus of Sam Smith’s ‘Stay With Me’ that resonated through the ‘57th Grammy Awards perfectly mirrors Rafael Nadal’s legendary connection with Roland Garros. Since his first triumph on the Parisian clay in 2005, Rafa has cherished the court like no other, etching his name in the history books of tennis. And now, less than a year after stepping away from the sport, his love affair with the Court Philiipe-Chatrier appears destined for eternity. As a fitting tribute to the Spanish icon who reigned supreme for 20 years at Roland Garros, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) is preparing a monumental send-off to honor the true King of Clay.

Born with a degenerative foot condition and plagued by chronic pain throughout his career, Rafa defied the odds to put his name among tennis immortals. With 92 ATP singles titles to his name, he conquered every Grand Slam tournament: twice at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, four times at the US Open, but his love affair with Parisian clay was truly unparalleled.

From his unforgettable Roland Garros debut in 2005, when he said, “I played with my best shade, with my best tennis,” after defeating Mariano Puerta in the final, to his 14th and final French Open triumph in 2022, Nadal cherished every inch of Court Philippe-Chatrier. His name and the clay courts of Roland Garros are forever intertwined: a sporting legacy like no other. Now, as whispers grow about a ‘grand tribute’ at the 2025 edition, the FFT seems poised to give Nadal the farewell he deserves, the final chapter in a love story that shaped tennis history.

In a recent talk show of Studio des légendes, Gilles Moretton, president of the FFT, revealed, “There will necessarily be something for Rafael Nadal, a real tribute, very important. We are attached to it. The [Davis Cup] tribute was not really the one that we had to pay him. We went to see him at home, at the beginning of December, with Amélie Mauresmo to talk to him about this tribute that we will organize for him, and talked to him about the future.”

He continued, “We will give the outlines in some time of this role of ambassador that he can hold with us. The two ‘brands’, Rafael Nadal and Roland-Garros, are one. So yes, we are considering things with him,”.

The 22-time GS winner bid an emotional farewell to tennis at the 2024 Davis Cup in Málaga, as Spain fell 1-2 to the Netherlands in the final. But was it ever about the result? As he stood up for the Spanish national anthem for the last time as a pro player, Nadal fought back tears, his hands trembling at his side. The crowd erupted with chants of, “Rafa! Rafa!” mirroring his raw emotion.

Despite nearly ‘two decades’ of dominance on the clay of Roland Garros, the former No.1’s final wave to the crowd after his loss to current World No. 2 Alexander Zverev remains etched in memory. Now, the highly anticipated 2025 collaboration promises to immortalize the clay courts as the true home of the 2008 Beijing Gold winner.

Yet, even in his absence from the new season, Rafa continues to captivate! Recently, he extended his heartfelt wishes to a fellow Spanish player, one he once shared the Parisian stage with: proving that his connection to the sport and its future stars remains as strong as ever.

“See you soon” — Rafael Nadal shares his best wishes to Fernando Verdasco

17-3! An astonishing H2H record that Rafael Nadal holds against his compatriot Fernando Verdasco, dating back to their first clash in Hamburg in 2003. The two Spaniards not only battled fiercely but also teamed up 8 times on the ATP Tour, even achieving the rare feat of breaking into the Top 10 of the doubles rankings.

However, while Rafa bid an emotional farewell in 2024, Verdasco quietly ended his 24-year professional career at the Qatar Open, playing alongside none other than Novak Djokovic. And, honoring his longtime rival and teammate, the icon from Mallorca sent a heartfelt tribute to his fellow Madrid comrade, once again proving why he remains a true ambassador of the sport.

Just after Verdasco’s retirement, Nadal wrote on social media, “We’ve experienced great battles on the court and very nice moments with Spain at the Davis Cup! Congratulations on your great career, @FerVerdasco!” Nadal wrote. “I hope you can now keep enjoying your family even more and your new challenges, see you soon!” 

Despite already being immortalized by sculptor ‘Jordi Díez Fernández’s’ masterpiece unveiled in 2021, Rafa’s upcoming collaboration with the FFT is set to etch his legacy even deeper in tennis history. And of course, there’s one ultimate piece we can never forget to mention: ¡Vamos, Rafa!