Why 2006 win over Roger Federer was much more emotional for Rafa Nadal than his 2008 saunter to French title

His career flew and took off at Roland Garros like no other place, but returning to the red clay, Rafael Nadal said though it was true he was a “very good tennis player”, but for other things in life, he was rooted and much loved as “just another human person”.

In a sit-down interview with The official French Open website, rolandgarros.com, Nadal spoke of his memorable moments at the Arena that has become synonymous with the athlete.

He recalled his debut, his favourite year beating Federer and the final goodbye beating Sasha Zverev in 2024 even as his greatest peers Messrs Federer, Djokovic and Murray, assembled at the 2025 start of French Open to a Beatles worthy applause.

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Ironically, his most remembered years, the “emotional ones” were when he suffered the most, the foot hurt like crazy, but he fought to win his 14 titles.

Recalling his first year, Nadal said he had hit the highest perch of the Roland Garros Philippe-Chatrier centre court in 2004 while on crutches and decided he eould return to win. He never stopped winning for thevnext 18 years.

“First time I visit Roland Garros was 2004. I was in crutches. It was a strange feeling because I was supposed to be playing already that year,” he told rolandgarros.com. “But I had a tough time, my first foot injury. I remember arriving in Roland Garros, that place I used to watch on TV all my life. Even on my crutches, I remember going at the highest part of the stadium. And saying, ‘Hopefully next year, I will be here to do good things.'”

The good became the greatest.

Soon enough he returned in 2005, and it was in his baggy white pirates and green sleeveless tee that he won his first title.

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“2005 was special. It was my first title at Roland Garros and first Grand Slam title. At the same time, things went very quick because I had started the year beingvaround something like 50 in the world and few months later I arrived at Roland Garros with the feeling that I was maybe not the favourite, but one of the favourites because I started winning a lot of matches abd I had a great clay court season at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. So I arrived in Paris with that confidence. But when I saw the draw I thought, “Wow this is tough.” But then things went well and I was able to win my first title which was unforgettable for me,” he said.

The rolandgarros.com video interview has the most charming enunciation of Barcelona (pr: Baarkhelona) as he went down memory lane.

Nadal thrice beat Federer initially in French finals – 2006, 2007, 2008. Nadal chose his most emotional of the three.

“For me the most important title against Federe was 2006 because I came back from a very difficult injury on my foot. I didn’t know if I would be able to play at that level that I later played at in my career. So 2006 was most emotional,” he said, the year he donned his Blue-black tee.

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2008 was arguably his most fluent march to the titles, but the comfortable saunter means it wasn’t particularly emotional, Nadal told rolandgarros.com.

“People also talk a lot about 2008 performance. And maybe it’s true that it was the year I played better. Or I was at a different level than the rest of the players. But the truth is if I remember that year when I played so well, but for ne it was not that emotional because the results had been more or less comfortable. So from internal side, I remember all the years when things had been much more difficult,” he said.

The 2017 LA Decima (The Tenth) had been unforgettable. “I came back in 2017 and the year started well. I arrived at the tournament with the confidence that I am playing well. I felt I was a big candidate to go through and win. And that’s what happened. In the end I played a very solid tournament. I didn’t know if I lost a set in that whole tournament but I played well. I arrived at last match of the tournament with the right energy and confidence. For me to win the No 10 had been amazing . What Roland Garros did for me at that trophy ceremony with the crowd with my name and No 10. It was one of the most special moments of my life,” he said.

He also was grateful to French Open for recognising his bond with Uncle Toni and getting him to present the trophy to Nadal. “Toni was most important person in my life. And to have him give me that trophy was super special and unforgettable. Back then he already said it was his last year being my coach and that made the moment more emotional. I can’t thank French Open enough for letting me live that moment with my uncle on court,” he said. A big flag in red & green was flying in the stands that day with Bravo Rafa written.

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Nadal’s last title at the French came in 2022 and he was literally in tears in the hotel room at 5 am with unbearable pain. “2022 had been a very rough year. My body was starting to give me clear signal that things were not working in a proper way. But I was playing well. That year I won in Australia. I don’t know how honestly because that was probably the most unexpected title in my career. But then I was playing really well. Winning in Apacupo, playing final in Indian Wells. But at Indian Wells I had a stress fracture of my rib,” he recalled.

Then he started to have problems with his foot. “I played in Rome but I was simply on one leg and was very worried if I would be able to compete in Roland Garros. So we decided to put some injections of anaesthesia on the foot to try to sleep the foot,” he told Rolandgarros.com.

It was his 300th Grand Slam match and he wrapped up a win in 3, 1, 4 against Corentin Moutet to reach the third round. “I finished the match with Moutet. But immediately after the match I remember going back to the hotel and I was not able to put my foot on the floor. So I was crying at 5 in the morning on the bed thinking my career was over. But then in morning I was talking to my doctor and we found a way to sleep the nerve and because of that we were able to go the whole way to the final,” he recalled.

By now, Nadal had a shorter crop, and his green & yellow tee was sleeveful as he won his 14th.

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As the years rolled on, he knew tge inevitable. “I wanted to give myself a chance to play my last tournament in 2024. But ofcourse there was a large percentage (improbable). But that day against Sasha (Zverev) was unforgettable because I had my chances, I enjoyed the game but it will always be impossible to describe the feelings. And the crowd was huge. The support I received….butbi had that feeling since long time ago so it didn’t surprise me because everything I played at Roland Garros the support of people was highest possible,” he said adding, “At the end of my career, I said it at the beginning but I want to say it again. I feel the love of the people was the most important thing for me in the place I love the most.”

Defining his legacy hevtold rolandgarros.com that it was about determination, passion and love. “But also hard work and about having as much success as possible but with positive values. I consider myself a normal guy, that’s it. If that is being humble that’s okay. I am from a small village of Majorca. I am a familiar guy that grew up around positive examples in terms of hard work, showing me how things need to be done. I was lucky to have good people, going family next to me so it was positive education,” he said.

His endless charm meant his mic drop was actually a mic neatly placed in its slot with a hoot of a line. “In the end I’m only a very good tennis player, that’s it… that’s true,” he accepted. “That’s a thing. For the rest of things in life, I’m just another human person.”

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