Rafael Nadal officially bade farewell to tennis in 2024 at the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain. It was an emotional night for the Spaniard, who closed the curtain on his legendary career in front of his home crowd. And ever since, retirement has been treating him well. He hasn’t picked up a tennis racket but has enjoyed playing padel and football at his academy and is happy spending plenty of time with his family. However, as he sat down for a heartfelt conversation with an old rival recently, the 22-time Grand Slam champion couldn’t help but dive down the memory lane, reflecting on one of the unforgettable moments of his career.

During an appearance on Andy Roddick’s podcast ‘Served‘, Rafael Nadal recalled the special honor he received at the Paris Olympics, being the torch bearer of the Spanish contingent. Roddick highlighted how significant the moment must have been for Nadal, saying, “I hope you understand, and I’m sure you do, the significance of the Olympics opening ceremony. When you’re walking the torch, you from Spain taking the torch from Zidane in Paris, that’s not something that happens. That takes decades of respect.’

Continuing further, the ex-American pro added, “That was one of the coolest moments of my tennis fandom. I was proud for our sport. I was obviously proud for you. I was happy, but also having that much history in that city to the point where they’re going, you know what? You’re Spanish, but you’re also one of us. You’re one of the most important figures in French sports history. How did that go down? When did you know? When did you get that phone call to participate?”

Nadal acknowledged the weight of the moment, expressing deep gratitude for the honor. The 38-year-old said, “Well, I will never have the chance to thank enough the organizers, the French people, and the Olympic team to give me that moment, honestly, without being French. Give me that moment, because it’s not a moment of the ceremony. They gave me that moment. We received the torch from Zidane in front of the Eiffel Tower. I mean, it had been one of the most emotional moments in my tennis career, without a doubt.”

The Spanish maestro continued, “The Olympics is something else, because it’s not only tennis. It’s the most important event of our world, that is sport. So, be part of it had been, for me, a recognition that meant a lot to me. And, of course, in Paris, the history that I had with that city is… Yeah, it’s difficult to explain, honestly, because I really don’t know how we arrived to that number; that for me, are difficult to imagine. But it happened. And for me, feel the love of the people and support of the people in the most important place in my career is something that makes me feel very proud, very happy. And I am incredibly thankful to all of them.”

The scene was nothing short of iconic. Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, received the Olympic torch from Zinedine Zidane, one of France’s greatest football legends. The ‘King of Clay’ then boarded a boat on the Seine, alongside Olympic greats Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci, and fellow tennis player Serena Williams. The moment symbolized Nadal’s deep connection with Paris, a city where he cemented his legacy on the courts of Roland Garros.

According to journalist Angel Garcia, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo played a key role in securing Nadal’s participation. She personally reached out, calling him the “image” and “history” of Paris. Nadal, a former Olympic gold medallist in singles (2008) and doubles (2016 w/ Marc Lopez), later competed in his final Olympic appearance. However, Nadal’s singles run ended in the second round against longtime rival Novak Djokovic. In doubles, he and Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals before losing to American duo Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. But it was Nadal’s farewell at the Paris Olympics that stood out.

The same cannot be said about his farewell at the Davis Cup, which is why the French Open is planning a special ceremony of their own.

Rafael Nadal to get a farewell at the French Open in 2025

French Open organizers are preparing a major tribute to Rafael Nadal at this year’s tournament. The 22-time Grand Slam champion was given a send-off at the Davis Cup in Malaga, but French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton felt it wasn’t enough.

“The tribute was not, in my opinion, what it should have been,” Moretton told Europe 1 radio. He revealed that he and Roland Garros tournament director Amelie Mauresmo visited Nadal in December to discuss plans for a special ceremony. “There’s bound to be something, a very big tribute,” he said. “We were ready last year, and he wasn’t ready; he was still a player.”

Even his archrival Novak Djokovic had weighed in on the retirement ceremony, expressing disappointment over its execution. The event lacked a star-studded presence and felt rushed. Djokovic, who was absent, shared his thoughts on it, saying, “I saw the video of the ceremony. I don’t know, I don’t know if Rafa maybe didn’t want to make too much of a fuss about it in order not to bother other teams, matches… I don’t know, to be honest, but I feel bad that I wasn’t there.”

While Rafael Nadal’s goodbye at the Davis Cup may not have been the grand farewell many envisioned, his legacy is far from forgotten. With Roland Garros planning a tribute, fans will soon have the chance to celebrate his legendary career properly.