Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo reportedly convinced Nadal to take part in the Opening Ceremony, telling him he was the “most Parisian of international athletes.”
If you were confused when French football legend Zinedine Zidane handed the Olympic torch to Spaniard Rafael “Rafa” Nadal at the opening of the Paris Olympics, you’re not alone.
Nadal carried the torch and sailed on a boat on the river Seine with fellow Olympic gold medalists. Between these four athletes, they had 20 across 12 Olympics starting in 1976 in Montreal: Rafa Nadal, two gold medals; gymnast Nadia Comaneci, five gold medals; tennis player Serena Williams, four gold medals; and track and field athlete Carl Lewis, nine gold medals.
That must have been one hell of a boat ride to watch on the Seine.
The website Sportskeeda reports that according to sports journalist Angel Garcia, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo convinced Nadal to take part in the Opening Ceremony by telling him, “You’re the image of Paris, one of the most important figures in Paris’ history, and as the most Parisian of the international athletes, we want you to have a very relevant role in the ceremony.”
Nadal’s romance with Paris started when he competed for the first time at the French Open in 2005. The famed clay courts of Stade Roland Garros were located at the western side of Paris, near the boundary of Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement.
He entered the tournament as a talented 18-year-old and left as a 19-year-old champion, marking the beginning of an era that he would dominate—one that the tennis fans had never witnessed before.
Nadal is one of only four players that has achieved a Career Golden Slam by winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and gold at the Olympics. He was the youngest to pull this off at 24 in 2010, joining Steffi Graf (1988) and Andre Agassi (1999), and later joined by Serena Williams (2012).
The year was 2005. Two years earlier, in 2003, he made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon when he was 16, becoming the youngest man to make it to the third round since Boris Becker in 1984.
In the 2005 tennis season, Swiss Roger Federer was seeded No. 1, American Andy Roddick was No. 2, Russian Marat Safin was No. 3, Spaniard Rafael Nadal was No. 4, and Argentine Gaston Gaudio was No. 5 and the defending champion of the French Open.
Federer was a few years ahead of Nadal—he was four years older and turned pro three years earlier than he did. Nadal defeated Federer in the semifinals, then he faced the Argentine Mariano Ruben Puerta in the finals.
Two days after the long-haired Nadal turned 19, he won his first ever Grand Slam and his first French Open title. He had lost the first match and swept the next three on Roland Garros’ red clay court.“This is the most important day of my career,” the teenager said. “I want to thank the crowd, my family, and my team for their support.”
Vamos Rafa!
Nadal’s record at Roland Garros is unparalleled. Nothing comes close to his achievement and nothing will anytime soon. Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles—14 of them at the French Open, more than any other player in history. Let that sink in for a moment. Nadal has won more titles at Roland Garros than in the US, Australia and London combined. The man has earned his moniker “The King of Clay” a thousand times over.
In the 2008 final against Federer, Nadal won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. I don’t think anyone has ever done that to the great Roger Federer since. The final game is cited as “one of the most dominant performances in a Grand Slam final.” Nadal’s ability to strategize and execute on clay is nothing short of amazing.
A gold in Paris would be the perfect ending to Nadal’s career. There is one huge problem: Novak Djokovic. Currently ranked No. 2, he has the Career Golden Slam in his sights with only an Olympic gold missing in the collection.
What was also amazing was that the world was witnessing the beginning of a very beautiful friendship and intense rivalry between the two young tennis stars, one that would push each other to tennis greatness.
Tennis star Andre Agassi, who won an Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games and his one French Open title in 1999, wrote a letter to Nadal in 2016 before the French Open started. “It took me most of my career to accomplish the Herculean task of winning the French Open just once. Watching you attempt to win it a 10th time is not only remarkable, it is inspiring.”
Nadal’s 10th French Open title, however, would happen the following year in 2017. Serbian Novak Djokovic was the defending champion but lost in the quarter finals while Federer withdrew before the tournament began. Nadal defeated fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut for his la décima.
Nadal said in center court, “It’s really incredible. To win la décima is very, very special. It’s difficult to describe the emotions that I have. Today was a very important day for me. Thank you to all of you.”
In 2020, coming from a series of injuries, Nadal won his 13th title when he beat Djokovic in the finals. It was the last Grand Slam of the year due to Covid-19. The Spaniard showed his respect for Djokovic, and acknowledged the difficult year due to the pandemic. “It’s been a tough year, but to win here means everything to me. Honestly, just to play here is a true inspiration. The love story I have with this city and this court is unforgettable.”
In 2022—18 years since his first French Open—Nadal faced defending champion Djokovic once again and defeated him in the quarter finals. After Nadal secured his 14th and perhaps last win at the French Open, he reflected on his journey at Roland Garros, saying, “It’s a dream to be back here and play again on this amazing court. I never believed I would be here at 36, competitive again, playing in one of the most important courts of my career. It means everything to me. Thank you very much to everyone, my team, my family, and everyone who makes this possible.”
Nadal’s sportsmanship, humility, sense of humor during post-game interviews, and work ethic have made him a beloved figure in Paris. In return, he has made the French Open the most exciting Grand Slam in the world—though he has also made it the most predictable since 2005.
A swan song at the Olympics?
Nadal’s connection to Paris goes beyond the clay courts. He has a deep affection and affinity for the city, and the love is mutual. Parisians call him their own son.
In interviews, Nadal often speaks fondly of Paris, praising its culture, history, and the passionate tennis fans who fill the stands at Roland Garros. This mutual admiration between Nadal and the city has made his triumphs at the French Open even more unforgettable.
In the city that has showered him love and where Nadal achieved legendary status with a record that’s likely to remain for the ages, Nadal has extended his philanthropic efforts and ambassadorial roles through his Rafa Nadal Fundacion.
Nadal is one of only four players that has achieved a Career Golden Slam by winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and gold at the Olympics. Nadal is the youngest tennis player to do so at 24 in 2010. He joined the company of Steffi Graf (1988 and the only player who has achieved it in one calendar year) and Andre Agassi (1999), and the club was joined by Serena Williams two years after Nadal (2012).
His two Olympic gold medals were won at Beijing in men’s singles in 2008, and at Rio de Janeiro in men’s doubles with Marc Lopez in 2016.
A gold in Paris would be the perfect ending to Nadal’s career—except that injury is threatening to derail his practice. There is one other problem: Novak Djokovic. Currently ranked No. 2, Djokovic has the Career Golden Slam in his sights with only an Olympic gold missing in the collection.
Should the two men meet in the finals, Parisians without a doubt will be chanting or praying silently at Roland Garros: Allons-y Rafa!
