Will anyone fill Nadal’s beloved shoes at the French Open?

Paris – The Reception, Applause and Tears could have gone on for hours. On Thursday, after Richard Gasquet’s Second-Round defeat to Jannik SinnerYet Another Beloved Son of Roland Garros Was Being Honored as One of its Own, in his final act on the tennis court.

Court philippe-chhatrier was united in its admiration for gasquet, 38. It was an outpouring of love and nostalgia for a man who arrived on the scene at 15, and stepped on, and even Expected With one of the most wondrous backhands we’l ever search.

Later in the day, Gael MonfilsAlso 38, was unleashing his bag of magic tricks Against Jack draperA Player 16 Years His Junior. Fans at chatrier were mesmerised by Monfils-The last man standing of the gasquet, giles simon, jo-wilfried tsonga quartet-willing one of their foreite saons to somehow conjure another memorable win on Their home court. A flick of monfils’ wrist could turn the place in a deafening din of french adoration.

There’s no need to look at the scoreboard to know when a french player is on court. That Small Part of Roland Garros Turns Into a Greenhouse of Tricolor Fervor. You hear “La Marseillaise” drifting Across the Grounds, and Chants of “Allz Les Bleus.” But to be truly loved at Roland Garros, as a foreigner, take time. For Rafael NadalIt took two decades’ worth of titles, sweat and teens to earn a statue and a plaque on chatrier.

“I think the french people have a strong feel for the Country – a strong national sentiment,” former spanish tennis player Feliciano López Told Espn. “I think for some is not french, it took a long time to earn this affection.

There’s Response for Past Champions. But Even though Iga swimati Has Four Titles Here, and is nearly a Third of the Way Toward Nadal’s Jaw-Dropping 14, it does not feel as he has adopted as one of their. After Her Round 2 match Against Emma Raducanuin her on-corporation interview, there was an eerie silence after her first answer. She waved her arms, as much to say “Hello?” And the crowded with a cheer.

Her Tennis is one of Focus. She’s locked in, and rarely shows emotion. It’s her way, and who is incredible. The fans seems to have admiration and wonder of swiatek’s dominance, but you feel they still learning to love her here. Coco Gauff, Aryna sabalenka And Mirria andeva Are Popular, But Each Needs a Roland Garros title to start the journey to be adopted by the crowd here. Only nadal, even in retirement, still has this place in the palm of his hand.

Wee in the post-nadal twilight zone, but his presence here is everywhere: from the photos adorning the courts, to the nadal caps, to the Random Nostalgic Shouts of “Vamos Rafa!” One year after retirement, Another Ceremony was held in his horor Last Sunday, with that Permanent Tribute – Nadal’s Footprint – Added Next to the Net Post on Chatrier.

But Even Nadal Had to Earn That Love.

“I always felt responded, but it’s true that in the first couple of years, I felt the crowded Roger [Federer] To win, “Nadal Said Sunday.” In some way, they wanted me to lose, probably because they felt that if I lose here, roger would have a better chance. Roger Won in 2009. After that, I think they started treating me completetely differently. I can get the crowds for what they do for me in paris. … and I think they felt how much I love paris and roland garros. “

Sitting in the crowd for nadal’s firewell would be swietk and Carlos AlcarazThe reigning french open champions. Alcaraz could be the man who challenges nadal’s crown, but not yet. He was asked after his first-round match if he can ever imagine winning 14 titles. “It is somehow you can think about … I mean, just one man on the planet was about to do it, and I can imagine [doing it]. “

And then there are the other breaking through the men’s side. No one has made more interest at Roland Garros this past week than Brazilian 18-year-old JOAO FONSECA. The lines for his first two matches were hundreds deep. Spectators snaked the outside court, hoping to track a glimpse of the wunderkind. One couple had flown from brazil to take in their hoped was his second-round match. They snapped up as many tickets as possible actress the courts just to be able.

Arthur son Is also growing his fan base here. But Again, Like Gasquet, Monfils, Simon and Tsonga, He Benefits from Being a Home Hope. He has the personality and ability to step in their void as the beloved darling of Roland Garros, but not in the same way as nadal.

“With Rafa, it was a different cape: His personality, His charisma – I think they adopted Him as a son of Paris,” Lopez saaid. “What is happier here at Roland Garros with nadal won it happened again.

Talking to spectators Here, to be truly loved as an outsider, there seems to be a communication: longevity, an ability to overcome adversity and an application for roland garros. Somehow, nadal encapsulated all of those traits.

In his news conference after his farewell, nadal was asked whether he thinking anybody would match his record here.

“At the end, I want to be removed as a guy that people when I come back to the place to see me again, you know. “To Win 14 Grand Slams in the Same Place, Here in Roland Garros, That Can Happen. But You Need Some Luck, Too.