France bids farewell to Rafa Nadal with the highest honors due to an exceptional figure in the history of tennis, whose glory had a very particular splendor on the courts of the Roland Garros tournament.
Once the news of the withdrawal was known, the general management of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) – organizer of the French tennis Internationals, such as the Roland Garros tournament – reacted very quickly and with exceptional admiration, beginning its gloss on the figure human and sporting of Rafa Nadal with this sentence: “An absolute legend”.
Legend with exceptional human and sporting roots, which the Roland Garros management summarizes in this way: «Immense champion, monster of power, resistance and quality“, marked the history of the world tennis circuit due to the psychological dominance of his opponents.”
‘Le Monde’, the most influential newspaper in France, begins its long and enthusiastic tribute to Rafa Nadal’s career with this phrase: «The left-handed player won fourteen times at Roland Garros, symbol of his absolute monarchy on clayhis kingdom. The French evening newspaper recounts, with barely contained emotion, the unparalleled quality of Nadal’s game and technique. And he highlights an important human detail: “A gladiator always willing to leave his life on the tennis courts among his greatest rivals.”
‘Le Monde’ continues: «Three years ago, the Spaniard inaugurated his own statue at Roland Garros, made by his compatriot Jordi Díez Fernández, immortalizing his own figure in steel, which is now fixed for eternity with exceptional figures in the history of the sport. tennis, relegating Björn Borg to second placewhose six titles are far behind Nadal’s feats.
‘Le Figaro’, the second national newspaper, presents the tennis player with this phrase: «A living legend, in earth and gold». And he adds: “Tennis will never forget the diabolical left-hander who reigned at Roland Garros and will remain as one of the greatest players in the history of tennis.”
‘Le Figaro’ also remembers the steel statue that has reigned at Roland Garros for three years, to install an exceptional figure in the legend of memory, presenting it with these words: «That monumental work 3 meters high, 4.89 wide and 2 meters deep, fixed for immortality the figure of the conqueror with a devastating right hand, electric, magnetic, incomparable gladiator“Unforgettable player, capable of saving impossible situations and repeated injuries.”
‘L’Equipe’, the first national sports newspaper, summarizes the farewell with two words: “Goodbye, Rafael.” And they add: “An immense career”. To summarize with figures an unprecedented career in the history of tennis. Absolute record for weeks at the world’s top, 912,209 weeks on the “throne” of the ATP circuit. 1,080 victories against 227 defeats on the circuit, 82.6% victories. 14 wins at Roland Garros, 4 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 2 Australian Open. The sports daily summarizes Rafa Nadal’s career with a single sentence: «A legendary career».
‘Le Parisien’ takes up Kilian Mbappé’s admiration: «An example as a player and as a person». The weekly ‘Le Point’ states: “It is difficult to imagine him moving away from the sport that has made him a world star.” The weekly ‘L’Express’ adds: “A legend of world sport.” And he adds: “The international tributes go far beyond Spain, France and tennis… The expressions of respect for his passion and incredible talent are multiplying.”
bittersweet note
The French passion and celebration for Rafa Nadal has a distant black note and very bittersweet.
In 2016, former minister Roselyne Bachelot made this statement: “It is known that Rafael Nadal’s famous injury, which cost him seven months of competition, was, without a doubt, the consequence of a positive control. Every time a tennis player takes several weeks or months of recovery, it is due to a positive control. Almost always”.
Nadal filed a complaintimmediately, and offered Justice all the medical documentation to fully confirm the shameful falsehood of Bachelot’s accusations. And in November 2017, the French Justice considered Nadal’s complaint justified and sentenced Bachelot for the crime of defamation to pay the costs of the case (2,000 euros), 10,000 euros for damages, plus a fine of another 500 euros. Nadal did not want to pursue legal action and donated that money to a charitable organization.
On the occasion of Rafa Nadal’s retirement, the French press preferred to forget, keeping a “pious” silence about such a painful story, not at all glorious.
