The Toddler and titans: Rafael Junior steals the show as tennis greats reunite for emotional Nadal farewell

Dubai: The moment was meant to be about Rafael Nadal. But as the 14-time French Open champion walked into centre court with his two-year-old son, all eyes turned to the youngest Nadal — Rafael Junior — who charmed the crowd and the champions alike.

In a moving scene on Sunday at Roland-Garros, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray stood waiting to honour their long-time rival. Nadal walked over and introduced his son to each of them — and Rafael Junior, just like his father once did on these courts, faced them with quiet confidence, tapping their hands in greeting like a seasoned showman.

The smiles said it all. The rivalry had melted into friendship, and the fierce battles they once shared now made way for playful pats and quiet affection.

Federer, Djokovic and Murray — together with Nadal, the so-called Big Four — have dominated men’s tennis for the better part of two decades. Sunday’s reunion was not just a farewell to Nadal but a celebration of that shared history.

“They represent a very important part of my tennis career, because in some way, we pushed each other to the limits,” Nadal said. “Always, one of that four was winning the tournament.”

Yet it wasn’t titles or stats that stole the spotlight this time. It was the sight of four legends gathered around a toddler, sharing a laugh and a moment of warmth on the red clay of Roland-Garros.

“To have my three biggest rivals there, in the court with me, meant a lot, no?” Nadal said. “And 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.”

The numbers, of course, still matter. Nadal and Djokovic faced each other 60 times, the most between any two men in the Open era. Djokovic leads the Grand Slam count with 24, followed by Nadal’s 22, Federer’s 20 and Murray’s three.

But on Sunday, the legacy wasn’t about numbers. It was about respect. About friendship. And about a little boy making three tennis greats bend down and smile.

Federer, now 43, retired in 2022. Murray stepped away after the Paris Olympics last year. Nadal’s farewell is still unfolding, but Sunday felt like the beginning of the end. Only Djokovic, 38, continues to compete — and he starts his French Open campaign on Tuesday.

Nadal put it best: “At the end, now, it’s all about being happy about everything that we achieved. All of us achieved our dreams.”

And now, as Rafael Junior toddles onto tennis’s grandest stages, a new chapter begins — one built on the foundations his father and three friends laid with racquets, rivalries and, above all, respect.