Toni Nadal wants Rafael Nadal to “come and say goodbye to Roland-Garros” despite his retirement announcement
Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni Nadal has urged the 22-time Grand Slam champion to say goodbye to Roland Garros in person.
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Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal (Images via Rafa Nadal Academy, X)
Although Rafael Nadal has announced that he will retire from professional tennis after representing Spain in the Davis Cup Finals in November, his uncle Toni Nadal insists that he must ‘come and say goodbye’ to Roland Garros. The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s childhood coach has claimed that the Spaniard owes it to France for the love he has gotten in the country over the years.
Rafael has enjoyed a great time in France, winning 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles there. He got his nickname ‘King of Clay’ for his dominance at Roland Garros. The 38-year-old has also received immense love from French tennis fans.
For the same reason, Toni wants his nephew to say goodbye at the tournament in person. The renowned tennis coach, who now runs the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy, claimed that he was thankful to France for making Rafael feel at home over the years.
I have to thank France for all my life, for what it has done for Rafael. Every time we went there, we felt at home. The organization is always lovely with Rafael. At the Olympic Games, he even carried the Olympic flame. He must come and say goodbye to Roland-Garros, because we have to thank France! For everything it has done for him.
Toni Nadal said on Marion Bartoli’s RMC Info show (H/T: We Love Tennis)
Rafael Nadal played his last match at the Roland Garros this season where he faced Alexander Zverev in the first round and lost.
Can Rafael Nadal come back to Roland Garros 2025 for his farewell?
Rafael Nadal did not have a farewell ceremony at the 2024 Roland Garros because he did not think it would be his last appearance at the Grand Slam tournament. Before the start of the event, Nadal played a couple of tournaments on clay and was seemingly finding his feet. However, facing Alexander Zverev spoiled his plans and he bowed out in the first round.
Nadal had reportedly declined a farewell ceremony from the organizers. The 38-year-old wanted to come back to the tournament in 2025.
As you can imagine, we had something planned for him. But … because he doesn’t know if it’s going to be his last Roland Garros or not, he wants to leave the door open maybe to come back next year as a player. So we are not going to push him, obviously, to do anything.
Roland Garros director Amelie Mauresmo said (H/T: Sportstar)
However, now with his decision to hang up his racket after the Davis Cup Finals, the chances of Nadal having a farewell at Roland Garros on the court look bleak. But he can surely be there to say goodbye to his fans in person, as suggested by his uncle Tony Nadal.
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Ritesh Pathak
(2150 Articles Published)