Watching Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros is a bucket list experience. The fans in the stands of Court Philippe-Chatrier erupt as he walks out.
It's his stage. For so long, he's had the place in the palm of his hand, with his unbelievable record of 112 wins (the most by any men's player at a single major in the Open Era) and 14 of the past 18 French Open titles.
With that comes the accustomed staples of the Nadal experience in Paris: the trumpet fanfare welcoming him to the showcase court, the waving of Spanish flags in the stands and the endless renditions of «Bella Ciao.» This year, the drums will still beat, Nadal T-shirts and caps will be worn and memories regaled, but the key protagonist will be absent after pulling out on May 18.
Roland Garros has been his second home. Alongside his 97% winning record at the tournament, Nadal has a host of other incredible statistics from that patch of Paris.