Quote du jour: Rafael Nadal says the Big 4’s respectful rivalry was “a message for the world”

PARIS, France—After officially retiring at the end of last year, Rafael Nadal returned to Roland Garros one more time to be feted with a farewell ceremony on the same court where he lifted a record 14 Coupe des Mousquetaires trophies.

Every detail of the tribute on Court Philippe-Chatrier was kept a surprise, Nadal said afterward. But there was one thing that he had a feeling about: His biggest rivals, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, would be there to celebrate his legacy.

WATCH: Rafael Nadal gets a proper send-off, and a place in the clay, at Roland Garros | 3 to Stream, Day 1

“I didn't know, but I could imagine that they (would) come,” he said with a grin as he spoke to press after the ceremony.

“The agendas of the people sometimes are difficult. But, of course, probably they knew that they (were) gonna make that day very special and that day gonna be very special for me.”

Collectively known as the Big 4, Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Murray defined the last two decades of men’s tennis. Their fierce rivalry and near-total dominance over the competition raised the bar higher—and moved the sport forward—in ways that any two players never could.

“Being four… that never allowed us to stay relaxed or to give us the break in terms of intensity, in terms of the determination of keep improving our game,” Nadal explained.

But this one wasn’t the typical sports rivalry full of animosity and trash talk. It’s one where fellow former world No. 1s Murray and Nadal troll each other after their favorite soccer teams, Real Madrid and Arsenal, crash out of the Champions League. And it's one where they show up for each other's career milestones—just as they did in 2022 for Federer's emotional retirement at Laver Cup.

It was more than a sports rivalry, said Nadal in our Tennis.com Quote du jour, it was a “great message for the world” about something bigger:

Q: Seeing the emotion from the crowd but also Roger, Novak, Andy with you here—is it one of these moments that make you realize what an incredible page of history you have written?

RAFAEL NADAL: …To have my three biggest rivals there in the court with me meant a lot. And at the same time it's a great message for the world, I think.

(The) best rivals, (the) toughest rivalries probably in the history of our sport, are able to be good colleagues, to respect each other. You don't need to hate the opponent to try to beat him with all your forces.

And that's the message that I think we showed people, we showed the new generations, and in some way that's our legacy.

The results are there, but at the same time the results are just results. Rest of the things stays.

That's the message that I think we showed people, we showed the new generations, and in some way that's our legacy. Nadal on the Big 4's respect for each other

The farewell ceremony on Chatrier drew a packed crowd, with fans in white or terre-battue colored shirts spelling out the words “❤️RAFA ❤️” across the stands. Though he admitted he's “still a little bit shy for all this stuff,” Nadal gamely gave a speech in three languages—English, Spanish and French—and was visibly moved when organizers revealed a plaque with his right footprint, now a permanent fixture on the clay of Chatrier.

And in classic Nadal fashion, he time to thank various “behind-the-scenes” members of tournament staff by name—drivers, credential office workers, practice court managers, and more. They later surprised him with a walk-on appearance, and greeted him with hugs and kisses.

That, Nadal says, is also part of his legacy he hopes to leave.

“The results are results, and of course I will be remembered for what I did on court. That's gonna stay there without a doubt,” he said.

“At the end, I want to be remembered as a guy that people are happy (to see again) when I come back to the places. That's the thing. That's the important thing… I had that feeling almost in every place.”