Fourteen times, Rafael Nadal was the last man standing in Paris as Roland Garros’ men’s singles champion. And as his tennis career officially ended on Tuesday on home soil in Spain, the city that was so integral to his legendary ethos was a showcase for its own fitting farewell as Nadal was honored with a stunning video projection at Paris’ Place du Trocadero by his longtime clothing sponsor Nike.
Standing at 10 meters tall, the tribute showcased images of Nadal through the years with the shimmering Eiffel Tower, under the cover of darkness, as a stunning backdrop. The clip show ended with a snapshot of Nadal from this year’s Roland Garros tournament, where he bid Court Philippe-Chatrier adieu after losing in the first round to Alexander Zverev, and a slogan that the brand developed in honor of Nadal’s famous dedication, passion and drive: “Greatness. It only takes everything.”
It also highlighted Nadal’s personal “Spanish bull” logo, developed with Nike back in 2013, and the iconic Nike swoosh.
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But the show in Paris was just one of the ways the Nadal’s longtime apparel sponsor paid tribute to him as the curtain closed on his career.
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The brand sent care packages of Nadal-branded gear, including a commemorative T-shirt and headband, to some of its other family members, Serena Williams chief among them, and even some of Nadal’s most ardent fans around the world. It also produced a short film in his honor that posted to the brand’s social media channels, and narrated by a key figure in Nadal’s journey with Nike: brand co-founder & chairman emeritus Phil Knight.
“Rafa has been the perfect representative for the brand,” Knight said in a statement released by Nike. “He’s embodied our mentality to never give up and is maybe the most ferocious competitor that’s ever lived.”
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“The thing I remember most about Rafa is the expression on his face when he’d get down — he’d twist his mouth and his eyes would narrow, and you would say to yourself, ‘Oh, look out, he’s put his game face on,’” he added.
“You could always see that tenacity. When he hit a forehand, the ball changed shape, he’d hit it so hard. And no one was going to outlast him in a five-set match. He was always fun to watch, and he was never out of a match.”
