Last May, Roland Garros organizers honored Rafael Nadal’s incredible results in Paris, unveiling his statue at the Stade Roland Garros complex. FFT President Gilles Moretton and sculptor Jordi Diez Fernandez, one of Spain’s leading artists, were also introduced at the ceremony to celebrate one of the greatest players of all time and his achievements at Roland Garros.
The statue is made entirely of stainless steel and is three meters high, 4.89 meters wide and two meters deep. It shows Nadal hitting the signature forehand that has brought him so much success over the past two decades.
For Roger Federer’s coach Ivan Ljubicic, after his 14th Parisian crown, Rafa deserves much more than a statue at Roland Garros! Ljubicic would rename Court Philippe-Chatrier to Rafael Nadal, praising the Spaniard and his incredible results at the clay major.
Nadal has won 112 of 115 Roland Garros matches and 14 titles from 18 trips to Paris. Rafa defeated Casper Ruud for his 22nd Major crown on Sunday, advancing two titles ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and writing new pages in tennis history.
Suffering from foot pain, Rafa started the campaign with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 win over Jordan Thompson. He edged out Corentin Moutet in the second round during the night session 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 after breaking the rival’s serve seven times and breaking his 300th.
Major Victory! Botic Van De Zandschulp fell in the third round 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 11 minutes and Rafa kept energy for more difficult rivals in the second week. Felix Auger-Aliassime was his first notable opponent, and Nadal prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in four hours and 21 minutes in a rare five-set match of Roland Garros through.
Struggling to find his best shots, Nadal restarted in the fifth set to overwhelm the young Canadian and set up the quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic. Rafa claimed a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 triumph in four hours and 12 minutes, beating Novak for 29th place.
Mal.
Ivan Ljubicic praised Rafael Nadal after another Roland Garros title
Rafa dethroned Novak after a solid performance in sets one and three. Playing with desire and determination, he staged a brilliant comeback in the fourth set, trailing 5-2 to avoid a decider.
Djokovic could have forced a fifth set after scoring two set points in game nine. Nadal saved both set points, retrieved the break and extended the set. He had a boost and used it well in the tiebreak, winning it 7-4 and going ahead.
In the semifinals, Rafa had to give it his all against Alexander Zverev, staying on the pitch for three hours just to build a 7-6, 6-6 lead! The German injured his ankle before the tie-break of the second set and retired to propel the Spaniard into another Roland Garros final at the age of 36.
Casper Ruud stood no chance in the final, Nadal beat him 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in two hours and 18 minutes for his 14th Roland Garros title and 22nd Major. “Not many players have made 14 appearances at Roland Garros.
Rafa has won 14 titles and there are no words to describe that achievement. I don’t think good old Philippe would mind if his place changed the name to Rafael Nadal. Rafa has a statue there, but that’s not enough,” said Ivan Ljubicic.
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