Rafael Nadal's uncle shares true feelings on French Open gesture after slating ceremony

Rafael Nadal is set to receive a huge tribute at the French Open later this year.

A 14-time champion at the tournament, there is already a Nadal statue on the grounds at Roland Garros. And organisers will now honour his glittering career after he retired last November.

Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni has now had his say on the planned gesture after slating the Spaniard’s original retirement ceremony.

Nadal hung up his racket at the Davis Cup Finals in November, entering retirement when Spain suffered defeat in their quarter-final tie. He was honoured with a tribute video and addressed the crowd before waving goodbye.

There had been reports that Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were going to attend his farewell. But they could only make it at the weekend, and because Spain lost on a Tuesday, organisers had to scramble for Nadal’s ceremony.

Toni was among those who heavily criticised the celebration, claiming it wasn’t fitting or “up to par”. So it’s no surprise that the Mallorcan tennis coach has been delighted to learn that the French Open will pay tribute to his nephew.

French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton recently revealed that Nadal would receive a “very big tribute” at this year’s tournament, which would be fitting for his achievements.

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Moretton and French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo visited Nadal in December to discuss their plans. And Toni has now revealed that the whole Nadal family is honoured by the gesture.

“The tribute at Roland Garros makes us very happy as a family. Rafael is very happy that he is being given this attention,” Toni told Marca.

“I know that they have been preparing it for some time and I think that it will be a great tribute.”

Explaining why it was so meaningful, he added: “For Rafael to receive a tribute in France and in the place where he has had the most sporting success, it fills him with satisfaction. I don't know if there will be other tributes, but this one is very important for him.”

French Open organisers had readied a tribute for Nadal in 2024 but the Spaniard rejected their offer while he was still an active player. However, he had barely played since early 2023 after battling multiple injuries.

He went on to lose in the first round to Alexander Zverev. The 38-year-old finally announced his retirement in October and said goodbye a month later.

Moretton told Europe 1 radio that Nadal was now ready for the tribute, and also criticised the Davis Cup organisers’ efforts. “There will, necessarily, be something for Rafael Nadal, a very big tribute,” he said.

“A real tribute, very important. We are attached to it. The [Davis Cup] tribute was not really the one that we had to pay him. We were ready last year and he wasn’t ready, he was still a player.”