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AFP
Former Spanish player and 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during a ceremony honouring his career on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on Sunday.
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AFP
The 38-year-old Nadal, who retired from tennis last November, was serenaded by the Roland Garros crowd, with spectators wearing different coloured t-shirts to create the message “14 RG, Rafa”.
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AFP
“I don’t know how to start… I’ve been playing on this court for 20 years. I suffered, I won, I lost. I have lived many emotions here on this court,” an emotional Nadal told the crowd after watching a video of his career highlights at Roland Garros.
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AP
Nadal gets emotional as he receives a standing ovation during the ceremony.
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AFP
From left to right: Nadal’s uncle and coach Toni, father Sebastian Nadal, mother Ana Maria Parera, son Rafa Junior, wife Maria Francisca Perello and sister Maria Isabel Nadal Parera attended the ceremony in Paris.
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REUTERS
Reigning women’s French Open champion, Poland’s Iga Swiatek (bottom, centre), men’s champion, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz (top, centre), and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero were also present during the ceremony. Both Alcaraz and Swiatek begin their title defence on Monday.
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Nadal (left) was joined by his biggest rivals – Roger Federer (second from left), Novak Djokovic (second from right) and Andy Murray (right) during the ceremony.
“After all these years fighting for everything, it’s unbelievable how time changes the perspective of things,” Nadal said to the other members of the ‘Big Four’.
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Federer embraces Nadal during the ceremony. Three years ago, Nadal had paired up Federer for the Swiss legend’s farewell match at the Laver Cup in London after which, an image of the two tearing up while holding hands went viral on social media.
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Djokovic hugs Nadal during the ceremony. The two faced each other 60 times, the most between two male players in the Open Era.
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Nadal hugs Murray during the ceremony. The two faced each other 24 times during the course of their careers, including nine times at Slams.
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GETTY IMAGES
The Big Four: Twenty two-time Major winner Nadal (second from right), 20-time Major winner Roger Federer (second from left), 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic (left) and three-time Major winner Andy Murray (right) during the ceremony.
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Nadal (centre) received a commemorative plaque from tournament director Amelie Mauresmo (left) and president of the FFT, Gilles Moretton (right).
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GETTY IMAGES
Apart from inviting his biggest rivals and presenting him with a special plaque, Mauresmo and Moretton had one more surprise for Nadal. Moretton sweeps the clay to show an on-court plaque dedicated to Nadal on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the ceremony.
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AP
A plaque with Nadal’s footprint will forever be a part of Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros to honour the tournament’s greatest champion ever.
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Nadal waves to the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the end of the ceremony.
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AFP
Nadal takes his son Rafa junior in his arms at the end of the ceremony on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
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REUTERS
Nadal bids farewell to the crowd with his son Rafael Nadal Junior at the end of the ceremony on Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros.
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