On May 25, 2025, the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros was not just a stage for tears but also for laughter, as Rafael Nadal, the 14-time French Open champion, shared a hilarious text exchange with Andy Murray during his emotional farewell ceremony. The Spaniard, who retired in November 2024, was honored in a star-studded event that reunited the “Big Four”—Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Murray. Amid the tributes and standing ovations, Nadal’s revelation of Murray’s cheeky message sent the tennis world into a frenzy of laughter, with fans on X buzzing: *“What’s going on with Rafa and Andy?!”*
### **The Emotional Farewell and the Hilarious Twist**
The ceremony, orchestrated by tournament director Amélie Mauresmo, celebrated Nadal’s unmatched legacy—112 wins, 4 losses, and 14 titles on the Parisian clay. Fans formed a mosaic spelling “RAFA” and “14 RG” with hearts, while a video montage of Nadal’s triumphs played. Nadal, in a sleek black suit, wept as he thanked his family, particularly uncle Toni, who coached him to 16 of his 22 Grand Slams. But the mood lightened when Nadal, in a press conference afterward, pulled out his phone to share a text from Murray.
### **Murray’s Savage Banter**
*“My good friend Andy, who I wasn’t in touch with for a while,”* Nadal began, grinning, *“the day Arsenal beat Real Madrid 5-1 in the Champions League quarter-finals, when the match just finished, after one second, he texted me: ‘Hey Rafa, haven’t spoken to you in a while. Just checking in to make sure you’re okay.’”*
The room erupted in laughter as Nadal recounted his confusion: *“For five seconds, I thought, ‘Wow, he’s such a nice guy, checking on my family!’ Then I realized—this is Andy’s British sense of humor!”* The crowd roared, and Nadal added, *“It made me smile when I didn’t feel like smiling.”*
Murray, a lifelong Arsenal fan, had seized the moment to tease Nadal, a diehard Real Madrid supporter, right after the Gunners’ crushing victory. Nadal, ever the good sport, revealed he didn’t retaliate when Arsenal later lost to PSG: *“I didn’t text him back. I’m not at his level of banter!”*
### **Tennis World Reacts**
The exchange went viral, with fans dubbing it *“peak British humor.”* The “Big Four” reunion was another highlight, with Federer, Djokovic, and Murray surprising Nadal on court. Federer embraced Nadal, recalling their 2022 Laver Cup farewell, while Djokovic called Nadal *“my greatest rival.”* Murray, who briefly coached Djokovic in 2025, joked, *“I thought I’d be here as a coach, not a rival!”*
### **Legacy Beyond Tennis**
Nadal’s story underscored the “Big Four’s” unique bond—69 combined Grand Slams and mutual respect despite fierce rivalries. *“We showed the world you can fight hard and still respect each other,”* Nadal said. As he left the court, a plaque bearing his footprint and “14” was unveiled, cementing his Roland Garros legacy. But it was Murray’s text—and Nadal’s retelling—that stole the show. As one fan put it: *“Rafa and Andy’s banter is the real Grand Slam!”*
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