The 38-year-old Spaniard, winner of 22 Grand Slam trophies, including 14 at Roland Garros, retired from the sport after his final match at the Davis Cup in Malaga in November.
For over two decades, the "Big Three" of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic dominated the sport, pushing each other to unimaginable heights. Now, a new story begins.
Retired Swiss star Federer and Nadal faced each other 14 times at Grand Slam tournaments with Nadal holding a 6-3 advantage in finals.
The 38-year-old Nadal last month announced he was putting an end to his glittering tennis career after the Davis Cup final
Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal is aiming to cap his emotional farewell from tennis with another Davis Cup triumph in Malaga next week.
Carlos Alcaraz said he was hoping to make Rafael Nadal's tennis farewell at the Davis Cup Finals a victorious one after he was dumped out of the ATP Finals at the group stage with a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev on Friday.
Novak Djokovic implored long-time adversary Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their "amazing rivalry".
The 38-year-old Nadal announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.
Nadal, the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, announced last week that he will retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.
As a child, Corentin Moutet was such a dedicated fan of Rafael Nadal that he used to sleep in one of the Spanish star's trademark sleeveless shirts.
Rafael Nadal began his pursuit of a record-extending 14th French Open title with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Australian world number 82 Jordan Thompson on Monday.
Rafa Nadal's return to action after more than a month out due to injury saw him lose to teenager Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid quarter-finals but the 21-times Grand Slam champion always knew it would take some time for his "old machine" to fire up.
Novak Djokovic may not seem like the intimidating tennis virtuoso athlete from the outset; rather, like somebody one might approach in a room full of strangers to ask for the Wi-Fi password, for instance. Fondly referred to as the Djoker, his demeanour in general, feels so vibrant and likeable that one might feel like cracking an informal joke with him; and he seems humble and humane- way more than an average superstar athlete or a comic superhero, yet he has morphed into a champion hero for the ages and for all ages.
No matter the result, tonight's Roland-Garros semi-final promises brilliant tennis.
Rafael Nadal claims an 11th French Open title with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 demolition of Dominic Thiem despite a worrying injury scare in the closing stages of the final.
Rafael Nadal moves a step closer to an incredible 11th French Open title on Monday by seeing off German Maximilian Marterer in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.
Nadal racks up 80th French Open win
Rafael Nadal says it's time to step up at the Australian Open after fighting off tenacious Argentine Diego Schwartzman to win through to the quarter-finals.
Written off as dead men walking, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal defied time to sweep the Grand Slams in 2017 while the injury curse which dogged their rivals looks set to be the new year's early storyline.
