The King of Clay lives on but 'impossible' is dead

As the King of Clay was being feted in an emotional ceremony to honour his astronomical achievements in Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday, the obvious was undeniable: Nadal’s heroics in Paris have made it so that we can never look at the word impossible the same way. 

Credit Nadal’s 14 titles in Paris for obliterating the concept. 

Impossible? The word has been stretched to its limit by a relentless warrior whose battle lust knew no bounds. The word is now buried beneath the terre battue, along with Nadal’s blood, sweat and tears. 

More of those tears were added to the mix today. 

On a perfectly sunny afternoon, Nadal was honoured for his legacy in Paris, in an emotional ceremony that was wet with the tears of Nadal and members of his family, whom he honoured with his words, spoken in English, Spanish and French. 

There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. 

“I may not be able to play here anymore, but my heart and remembrance will always be here,” Nadal told the crowd, who stood and cried and cheered at full throat whenever the King of Clay paused his words. 

On a plethora of Sundays, Nadal has stood on a platform in the centre of the immense stadium, sunk his teeth into the enormous Coupe des Mousquetaires and soaked up the crowd’s applause. On this Sunday, the first day of the first Roland-Garros since his official retirement, he came to the court under different circumstances. 

Decked out in a slender fitting navy blue suit, Nadal stood at a podium as he was regaled with a fervour to match the intensity with which he played.

Fans, clad in ochre-colored T-shirts with the words ‘Merci Rafa’ emblazoned on them broke out the Mexican wave not long after Lorenzo Musetti finished the day session with a win over Germany’s Yannik Hanfmann. 

The atmosphere, a mix of hysteria, anticipation and unencumbered joy, was suddenly at a crescendo when Nadal arrived on court, and for good reason. Anyone who felt cheated about not getting to say a proper goodbye to the Spaniard at the tournament he has owned like no other will no longer feel that way after Sunday’s magical ceremony. 

“I experienced everything over these 20 years,” an emotional Nadal told the crowd.

In awe at the sight of the clay warrior, 15,000 adoring fans watched a prepared tribute video. Nadal stood motionless, as if in awe as well. 

It was pulsating inside Chatrier, the energy building like a fever. When the tribute video ended, before Nadal had even uttered a word, the crowd refused to stop applauding for more than two minutes. Then they started chanting RAFA! RAFA! as on-court cameras panned to his family in tears courtside.

Nadal took the mic to speak, also on the verge of tears, and the clamour only got louder. 

As of Sunday evening there must be enough of Nadal’s blood, sweat and tears in the terre battue to create a biblical flood. The Spaniard’s playing days may be over but the indelible mark he has left on this tournament and on the city of Paris will serve as inspiration for all who dare to dream of becoming a Roland-Garros icon. 

After Nadal’s prepared words, in which he thanked his wife Maria Francisca, his parents Sebastian and Ana Maria, his Uncle Toni and many others, a Big Four reunion took place with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray walking on court to thunderous cheers. 

“It’s incredible how time changes the perspective of everything,” Nadal told his peers. 

“All of us achieved our dreams,” he continued. “We showed the world that we could fight as hard as possible, but in a good way, being good colleagues and respectful to one another.”

Just when the ceremony appeared to be winding down, Nadal was ushered over to the side of the court where the clay was swept aside to reveal a plaque adorned with his footprint, next to it an image of the Coupe des Mousquetaires and the number fourteen. 

It will remain there, part of the famous court, as remembrance of what we have witnessed.

"It's a present that I can't describe in words," Nadal later said.

"But for me it was and it is and it's always going to be a huge honor and very, very emotional to have this spot on the most important court of my tennis career, without a doubt."

Fourteen! It still boggles the mind. 

In Paris, there is before Nadal and after Nadal, and on Sunday 15,000 teary-eyed devotees made the pilgrimage to pay homage to the man who created a new standard of excellence on the terre battue. 

It will take a lot to top the thrilling emotions of this day. It will take even more to approach Nadal’s unthinkable Roland-Garros legacy.