“No goal comes before values”: Rafael Nadal honoured with Doctor Honoris Causa in emotional tribute

Rafael Nadal received a special tribute in Spain following his retirement, after being honored as a doctor by the University of Salamanca. The 22-time Grand Slam champion became the first athlete to be granted the Doctor Honoris Causa distinction in the history of the traditional, 800-year-old university.

The former World No. 1 forged a legendary career that came to an end—after more than 20 years—in 2024, when he last represented Spain in the Davis Cup Finals. On that occasion, he joined Carlos Alcaraz for a final show, where the Spaniards were defeated in the quarterfinals by the Netherlands, and Nadal definitively hung up his racquet.

At 39, Nadal received the highest honor from the institution, adding a new title—this time academic—which recognizes his sporting achievements, as well as the values he embodied throughout his career, such as "discipline, teamwork, humility, simplicity, perseverance, the spirit of overcoming obstacles, and commitment to excellence."

The 14-time Roland Garros champion exchanged his athletic gear for the black doctoral gown, the doctoral biretta on his head, and a stole —both in sky blue, the color associated with the faculty that granted the recognition. Nadal was accompanied by his family—his wife, Mery Perelló, and his two children in the front row—who witnessed the emotional speech given by the former tennis player.

“As you all know, I did not follow a traditional academic education like most of you here; my education was different,” he stated. “Ever since I was a boy, sport has been my own college and, in some ways, my own university. What I learned on the courts has always been with me, both in tennis and away from it. Sport taught me the value of discipline. You get nothing without daily hard work, without commitment and without taking care of the smaller details,” he said.

“Sport also taught me not to feel that I am better than anyone, because in competitions and in tournaments, as in life, nobody wins every time."

“In 2002, when I was still a teenager, I was very excited about a particular goal; to play in the junior Roland Garros tournament for the first time. At the time, I already had some ATP points, I’d played in international tournaments and I thought that event was a great chance to compete on one of the most emblematic stages in my sport. Imagine a 15-year-old’s excitement at playing in Paris.

“However, my parents told me I could not play, because it was during exam season. For me, at 15, it was very difficult to understand. Despite my disappointment, my parents were not to be moved and in the end, I didn’t play in the tournament. With time, I learned that the decision was a great lesson and now I thank them because they helped me finish my compulsory education and they taught me that no goal comes before values and education.”