Justine Henin absolutely doesn’t think that Rafael Nadal’s French Open legacy will diminish a bit now that he is retired as the Belgian former world No. 1 says the Spaniard’s astonishing achievements at Roland Garros will “remain unique and eternal.”
After lifting his maiden Grand Slam title in his French Open debut in 2005, the newly-retired Spaniard went on to win 13 more titles at the tournament and finish with an all-time record of 14 titles. En route to doing so, he posted a stunning 112-4 record on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
But this year, Nadal – who was basically uncertain for the tournament until the last moment – suffered his first-ever first-round defat at the Parisian Slam.
“Roland-Garros will survive Rafael Nadal, fortunately, but the mark will be eternal. What he did, we can say that it will remain unique, even if some will have seen in his domination something that took away from the interest of the tournament, for the public. But when someone takes control like he did, when someone seizes the keys, he does not want to share them,” former four-time French Open winner Henin told Eurosport.
Rafael Nadal© YouTube screenshot
French Open’s tribute to Nadal
After the 38-year-old’s career offically came to an end at the Davis Cup, he received a special message from his beloved tournament. And there, he was called “our greatest champion” and “the King of clay” – which tells everything you need to know about how the French Open organizers feel about him.
“We’re proud to count you as our greatest champion, as much for your 14 titles as for the man you are. Your legacy will live on forever, on and off the tennis courts. Victory belongs to the most tenacious. Legend belongs to the King of clay,” the tournament wrote.
Nadal’s 14 French Open titles is the record for most triumphs at one Grand Slam tournament.