PARIS (AP) — Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray confirmed up at the French Open on Sunday to take part in a ceremony honoring 14-time match champion Rafael Nadal, symbolizing the approaching finish of a golden period in males’s tennis.
Throughout the tribute to Nadal, a video performed exhibiting his three rivals — collectively, the quartet with a mixed 69 Grand Slam titles got here to be generally known as the Huge 4.
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“We couldn’t allow you to depart like this,” Murray within the taped phase, after which he, Federer and Djokovic walked out collectively onto the clay court docket.
Nadal, who turns 39 subsequent month and retired after final season, went over to them and gave every a hug. All of them patted him on the again.
“On the finish, now, it’s all about being blissful about the whole lot that we achieved,” Nadal mentioned. “On the finish, all of us achieved our desires.”
Federer, now 43, performed his final match in 2021 and introduced his retirement the next 12 months. Murray, who turned 38 this month, retired after collaborating within the Paris Olympics final 12 months and briefly coached Djokovic this season. Djokovic, who turned 38 on Thursday and gained his one hundredth profession title on Saturday, is the one member of the group nonetheless lively on tour.
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Djokovic has gained essentially the most Grand Slam titles for a person, 24. Nadal is subsequent on the checklist with 22, adopted by Federer with 20. Murray gained three.
“In any case these years preventing for the whole lot, it’s unbelievable how time modifications the attitude of the whole lot,” Nadal instructed them. “You don’t know but, Novak. Most likely you understand already, Andy. With Roger, we’ve got talked about it a pair occasions. The entire nerves, stress, unusual emotions you are feeling once we see one another once we are rivals — it’s fully totally different once you end your profession.”
Nadal and Djokovic performed one another 60 occasions, essentially the most matches between two males within the Open period of tennis, which started in 1969. Djokovic led the sequence 31-29, taking their closing encounter within the second spherical of the Paris Olympics final 12 months, though Nadal led 8-2 in French Open matchups.
Nadal led Federer 24-16, together with 6-0 at Roland-Garros. Nadal led Murray 17-7.
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“We confirmed the world that we will struggle as onerous as doable, however being good colleagues and respecting one another very properly. And for me, it means lots that you’re all right here,” Nadal mentioned. “You gave me some onerous occasions on court docket, actually, however I actually loved pushing myself to the restrict each single day to compete with all of you.”
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AP Sports activities Author Jerome Pugmire contributed.
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis author since 2002. Discover his tales right here: https://apnews.com/creator/howard-fendrich. Extra AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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