Zidane to Nadal and Serena Williams to Mauresmo as tennis dominates Olympic Games opening ceremony in superb fashion
ATPSaturday, 27 July 2024 at 07:36
Rafael Nadal is a true legend in Paris having won 14 titles at Roland Garros and as he prepares for his final Olympic Games it was a fitting end to his Olympic run before he plays of course to be involved in the Opening Ceremony.
Nadal was seen with his son Rafa Jr and his wife on the balcony watching it all unfold earlier in the night. But he was soon thrust into the spotlight. Perhaps not expected to make the journey given that he plays doubles tomorrow with Carlos Alcaraz, those doubting he would be involved were wrong.
Nadal was handed the torch by a French legend in footballing icon Zinedine Zidane and went on the journey along the river alongside another tennis icon in Serena Williams who was also present. Also sporting icons in athlete Carl Lewis and Nadia Comaneci all helped carry the torch.
Before it was then passed on to Roland Garros tournament director by Nadal to Serena to Amelie Mauresmo. The first and only French player in the Open Era to be World No.1. For those who follow tennis, it was certainly a stacked evening. It featured a lot of the icons from tennis that are heavily associated with the city and its yearly Grand Slam.
A truly special moment through the rain that blighted most of the evening and even left Andy Murray reposting a tweet saying that if he was left out any longer he'd rust. But tomorrow starts the main event with Nadal potentially playing in the Olympic Games for the last time if he then shirks singles. But at least he has one memory before it all begins.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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