"That british sense of humor”: Rafael Nadal shares funny anecdote with Andy Murray and reflects on a legacy of respect

Rafael Nadal's tribute ceremony at Roland Garros left almost everyone in tears, as it was not only a celebration of titles but a statement on what truly matters after two decades of competition. Beyond his 14 titles, Rafa's values, relationships, and the respect he earned -and showed- shapes the Spaniard's legacy as one of the biggest sports figures of the 21st century.

After the emotional tribute organized by the French Open to say goodbye properly to their most beloved and iconic figure, Rafael Nadal shared his thoughts about it in the press conference. Throughout the interview, Rafa returned several times to the significance of respect. Speaking about the presence of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in his farewell, Nadal reflected:

"To have my three biggest rivals there in the court with me meant a lot. At the same time, it’s a great message for the world... You don’t need to hate the opponent to try to beat him with all your forces. We showed us the way to follow to be better and better, and we achieved our dreams... probably because of that kind of rivalries, we raised the numbers of the history of tennis to the next level, ” said the 22-time Grand Slam champion. The Big Four rivalry was what truly shaped and cemented the careers of these amazing tennis beasts.

"When you are only two, sometimes you lose motivation if the other gets injured or starts losing. But we were four. There was no margin to relax. One of us was always winning. That pressure pushed us all to the limit."

The genuine affection between Nadal and his rivals was also evident in a light-hearted anecdote about Andy Murray. Nadal shared a message he received just seconds after Real Madrid lost to Arsenal:

"Andy texted me: ‘Hey Rafa, haven’t spoken to you in a while. Just checking in to make sure you are okay.’ Honestly, it took me five seconds to realize what I was reading. At first, I thought he was just being nice… and then I realized — British humor! By the way, I didn’t text him back."  

An hilarious quote that reflects perfectly Andy Murray's sense of humour and also Rafa Nadal's personality. These four players fought each other, but behind that fierce competition, a quiet friendship began to grow.