'Big Four' reunite at Nadal's French Open farewell

Rafa, Roger, Novak and Andy.

The names rotation disconnected nan lingua for nan modern-day tennis instrumentality arsenic quickly arsenic John, Paul, George and Ringo do for a Beatles geek.

This fab 4 - aliases nan Big Four arsenic they are known - of nan ATP Tour's post-millennium aureate era are not seen together overmuch these days, pinch Rafael Nadal becoming nan 3rd of nan group to discontinue astatine nan extremity of past year.

But he, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray reunited connected Sunday arsenic nan French Open gave an affectional farewell to its 14-time champion.

"After each these years fighting for everything, it's unbelievable really clip changes nan position of things," an affectional Nadal, 37, told his rivals-turned-friends aft they strode retired to subordinate him connected Court Philippe Chatrier.

"All nan nerves, pressure, unusual feelings erstwhile you spot each different erstwhile you're rivals, it's wholly different erstwhile you decorativeness your career.

"We built astonishing rivalries but I deliberation successful a bully way, we fought difficult for titles but were bully colleagues and respected 1 another.

"It intends a batch that you're each here. I really enjoyed a batch pushing myself to nan limit each azygous time to compete pinch each of you."

Federer, who famously held hands pinch Nadal arsenic they cried during nan last lucifer of nan 43-year-old Swiss' career, received nan first lukewarm embrace, pinch hugs for Djokovic and Murray following.

Djokovic, 38, arrived successful Paris conscionable hours earlier aft winning nan 100th title of his profession connected Saturday, while Briton Murray laughed afterwards he had thought he would beryllium astatine nan ceremonial successful his domiciled arsenic nan Serb's coach.

Their business came to an extremity earlier this month, resulting successful French Open tourney head Amelie Mauresmo asking 38-year-old Murray if he could still make it.

"I didn't cognize they would beryllium present - but I could ideate they would come," Nadal said.

"The agendas of group sometimes are difficult. But of people they cognize that [being there] would make nan time very typical for me."

Murray travelling to Paris from London and backmost connected Sunday was a measurement of his respect and appreciation for Nadal, who he became friends pinch erstwhile they were juniors.

"What he went connected to execute was amazing, peculiarly here," Murray told a mini group of reporters.

"People opportunity it each nan clip pinch records but I genuinely deliberation that this one, I would beryllium really very, very amazed if that gets broken.

"It is going to guidelines nan trial of clip I think.

"He's an amazing, astonishing player, a awesome guy, and it was awesome to spot him person a due send-off."

Nadal later gave an amusing anecdote which offered further penetration into his relationship pinch Murray.

"After Arsenal hit Real Madrid [in nan Champions League], he messaged me.

"I'll publication it retired to you: 'Hey Rafa, I haven't said to you successful a while - conscionable checking successful to make judge you are OK'.

"It took maine 5 seconds to realise what I was reading. I thought 'he's specified a bully guy'. This British consciousness of humour. By nan measurement - I didn't matter him backmost erstwhile PSG hit Arsenal."

Nadal played nan bulk of his 115 French Open matches connected Court Philippe Chatrier and won each of his 14 titles connected nan astir celebrated clay tribunal successful nan world.

Six months aft nan last lucifer of his profession astatine nan Davis Cup Finals successful Spain, he returned for a typical farewell.

Nadal matches connected Chatrier utilized to beryllium a oversea of Spanish reddish and yellow. On Sunday, nan colour strategy was Roland Garros terracotta.

Each ticketholder was handed a T-shirt connected their measurement into nan 15,000-seater stadium, creating a palette which matched nan colour of nan aboveground which Nadal dominated for truthful long.

Even earlier Nadal appeared for nan 50-minute ceremony, nan chant of "Rafa! Rafa! Rafa!" rang retired arsenic his adoring assemblage waited for his arrival.

The mostly roseate to their feet erstwhile a suited-and-booted Nadal walked out, including Carlos Alcaraz - agelong seen arsenic nan heir to Nadal's crown - and reigning women's champion Iga Swiatek.

A lengthy information of applause lasting much than a infinitesimal followed. It near Nadal flooded pinch emotion, biting his articulator and wiping his rima arsenic he absorbed nan acclaim.

After watching a showreel of nan iconic memories he made astatine Roland Garros, Nadal paid tribute to his family - who were sat successful nan beforehand statement of nan statesmanlike suite - nan tourney and nan French fans.

Towards nan extremity of a reside conducted successful Spanish, French and English, Nadal could not clasp backmost nan tears immoderate more.

He sniffled done a connection of acknowledgment to 1 circumstantial family personnel - his uncle Toni, nan man who taught him tennis from nan property of 3 and coached him to 16 of his 22 awesome titles.

Following nan cameo of Federer, Djokovic and Murray, location was still clip for 1 much surprise. Mauresmo and French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton unveiled a metallic plaque, featuring Nadal's footprint, adjacent to nan Chatrier nett post.

"It was perfect. I could not person expected a much affectional day. It was unforgettable pinch plentifulness of emotions," Nadal said.

"For a feline for illustration me, who does not for illustration these benignant of things, I americium still a spot awkward and don't for illustration to beryllium nan centre of attention. But I enjoyed it a lot."