French Open 2025: Rafael Nadal tribute 'a beautiful moment' for 'such a legend', says Novak Djokovic
ByOli Gent
Published 27/05/2025 at 14:05 GMT+1
Novak Djokovic said that the tribute given to 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal was "a beautiful moment" when he, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray joined their former foe on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The ceremony honoured the Spaniard's long-term dominance on the red clay of the French capital, and Djokovic said that it was a "fitting goodbye" for a legend of the sport.
'A beautiful moment' - Djokovic opens up about Nadal ceremony at French Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
Novak Djokovic called Rafael Nadal’s French Open tribute "a beautiful moment" as he, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray joined their former rival on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The Spaniard was honoured with a 50-minute ceremony on day one of the tournament, having made his final appearance of his 23-year career last year, being defeated by eventual finalist Alexander Zverev in round one.
Nadal, the 14-time champion on the Paris dirt, conversed with his fellow members of the ‘big four’ of men's tennis before addressing his "great friends" in front of a teary-eyed Chatrier crowd.
Djokovic, who beat Nadal in the Spaniard’s last singles match at Roland-Garros in the second round of the Paris 2024 Olympics, ended his drawn-out quest for Olympic gold with a battling win over Carlos Alcaraz, the current French Open champion and someone that many deem to be Nadal’s long-term successor.
Speaking to the media ahead of his first-round encounter with Mackenzie McDonald, Djokovic, the sixth seed in Paris this year, emphasised that Nadal "absolutely deserved" the reception he received on Saturday.
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"Coming here yesterday with memories of the locker room celebration last year after the Olympic gold, of course," Djokovic said.
"But primarily to celebrate Rafa's career and Rafa's achievements in this tournament. So it was a beautiful moment, really one of the nicest moments I have experienced on this court. Really, walking into the court with Federer and Murray alongside and being there for Nadal and experiencing all the glory of yesterday's celebrations of his career.
"We were all happy for him because he absolutely deserved it. I felt like last year's Roland-Garros, he didn't know whether it was the last one or not, and then I didn't feel like he was getting a proper farewell, even at the Davis Cup. I think this was a very fitting goodbye for such a legend."
Djokovic is the only player to have beaten Nadal at all four major tournaments, but the Serb is down 20-9 in the pair’s clay head-to-head.
Djokovic, who is without Murray in his corner in Paris after ending their recent coaching experiment, is aiming for a 25th Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros, and is back to winning ways after he won the title in Geneva last week to claim the 100th tour-level crown of his career.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
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