Justine Henin completely does not assume that Rafael Nadal’s French Open legacy will diminish a bit now that he’s retired because 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 extra titles on the event and end with an all-time document of 14 titles. En path to doing so, he posted a shocking 112-4 document on the clay courts of Roland Garros.Â
However this 12 months, Nadal – who was principally unsure for the event till the final second – suffered his first-ever first-round defat on the Parisian Slam.Â
“Roland-Garros will survive Rafael Nadal, fortuitously, however the mark can be everlasting. What he did, we are able to say that it’ll stay distinctive, even when some could have seen in his domination one thing that took away from the curiosity of the event, for the general public. However when somebody takes management like he did, when somebody seizes the keys, he doesn’t wish to share them,” former four-time French Open winner Henin told Eurosport.
Rafael Nadal© YouTube screenshot
Â
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 biggest 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 depend you as our biggest champion, as a lot in your 14 titles as for the person you’re. Your legacy will dwell on ceaselessly, on and off the tennis courts. Victory belongs to probably the most tenacious. Legend belongs to the King of clay,” the event wrote.
Nadal’s 14 French Open titles is the document for many triumphs at one Grand Slam event.Â
