Rafael Nadal will bid farewell to professional tennis at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, but the Spaniard will forever be synonymous with the French Open and Roland-Garros

Rafael Nadal has confirmed his retirement plans (Image: (Image: Getty))

Rafael Nadal is preparing to bid adieu to tennis, leaving behind a legacy at Roland-Garros that will likely remain unmatched. The 38-year-old has announced his plans to wrap up his extraordinary career next month at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, with an aim to secure victory for Spain one last time.

It seems fitting for the 22-time Grand Slam champion to bid farewell to the sport on his home ground, but arguably, Nadal felt most at home at Roland-Garros in France.

The ‘King of Clay’ secured the French Open title 14 times, with his remarkable record reflecting just one loss at the Paris major between 2005 and 2014.

His most recent appearance at the stadium was during the Paris Olympics, where he also celebrated his latest Grand Slam victory at the 2022 French Open. Nadal has been showered with accolades and tributes from his toughest competitors and other tennis greats.

However, the staff at Stade Roland-Garros, who have known the legend for years, claim to have insight into Nadal’s ‘true’ character away from the public eye.

Rafael Nadal with Roland-Garros staff (Image: (Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images))

In 2018, French publication L’Equipe conducted a series of interviews with the staff at Roland-Garros. Linda, a stenographer who transcribed press conferences, shared how the Spanish star consistently demonstrated a touch of class before addressing the media.

She disclosed, “When he arrives at a conference, he always says hello and winks at me. During the first interview of the tournament, he always comes and asks me how I’m doing.

“The other players say hello and goodbye, but he makes it personal. He always answers the questions very seriously and then suddenly says something funny. Someone asked him, ‘Who is Roland Garros? ‘ and he replied, ‘I’ve never met him’. And his smile is very infectious.”

Nadal’s warmth extends beyond tennis – just ask driver Aurelien Pajot. Bonding over football, their friendship blossomed outside the Grand Slam clay.

Pajot shared with L’Equipe, “Over time, a bond was forged. When we met every year, we would give each other a big hug,” continuing with, “Sometimes we would send each other a few messages to wish each other a happy new year and to see how the family was doing.

“We hardly ever talked about tennis, more about football, possible transfers, Real Madrid, and so on. Several times, when we were saying goodbye after taking him to the airport, he would offer me a gift, his bag, a pair of signed shoes, without me asking him for anything.”

Amidst his packed calendar, Nadal makes a point of connecting with the Roland-Garros staff. According to receptionist Marjorie, his thoughtfulness undoubtedly sets him apart from others in the game.

“Every morning, when he arrives at the stadium, he nods to everyone and says hello, in Spanish or French, depending on the day,” Marjorie revealed. “He is very respectful of our work. It’s quite rare.

“You can sense an incredible humility in him. Last year, on a match day, he walked past me without saying hello and then left the room. I thought to myself: ‘It happens, nobody’s perfect.’ But then he came back to nod and say hello. He pays great attention to details. Other players don’t do that.”