maria sharapova offered a heartfelt message to rafael nadal after watching the emotional farewell tribute held for him on the opening day of the 2025 french open, may 25. though she couldn’t attend in person, the former world no. 1 made sure to share her admiration and respect for nadal through an instagram story after viewing the entire ceremony.
the tribute marked the end of an era, celebrating nadal’s unmatched success at roland garros, where he claimed a record 14 titles. few athletes in history have dominated a single event the way nadal has ruled the clay courts of paris. while he played his last grand slam match at the french open in 2024, this year the tournament honored nearly two decades of his excellence.
the event brought together tennis legends, including novak djokovic, roger federer, and andy murray, reuniting the legendary ‘big four.’ other tennis stars like carlos alcaraz, iga swiatek, and simona halep also attended, wearing “merci rafa” shirts alongside thousands of fans in court philippe-chatrier.
sharapova and nadal have maintained a warm friendship over the years, often appearing together at promotional events and sharing mutual admiration. although not present in paris, sharapova’s message captured the emotions many felt watching one of tennis’ greatest players receive his due recognition.
rafael nadal officially announced his retirement in october 2024 and played his final professional match during the davis cup finals in november, representing spain in malaga. since stepping away from the sport, he has focused on family life, business interests, and other personal projects.
during a press conference following the tribute, nadal expressed that he doesn’t currently miss playing tennis and is content with life post-retirement. he shared that he doesn’t feel bored and is enjoying the change of pace.
as part of the tribute, a unique symbol of nadal’s legacy was left on court philippe-chatrier his footprint permanently embedded in the clay, a lasting reminder of the dominance and inspiration he brought to roland garros.
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