At the heart of Roland Garros, where legends are forged on clay, a moving ceremony took place, paying tribute to a unique figure in tennis: Rafael Nadal. But amid the speeches, tears, and applause, an unexpected moment moved the Spanish champion and everyone in attendance to their core. A forgotten story from the past resurfaced with force… a story that began exactly 20 years ago, in 2005.
It was 2005 and Rafael Nadal, a young man of just 18, was participating in Roland Garros for the first time. That year, he would make history by lifting his first trophy in Paris, but few remember a peculiar incident that occurred during one of his first matches at the tournament.
During a powerful exchange from the baseline, Rafa hit a ball with such force and spin that it bounced unpredictably and ended up hitting the heads of two ball girls… who turned out to be twins. The stadium fell silent for a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, until both girls, a little dazed but not seriously injured, stood up with timid laughter. Nadal, visibly concerned, interrupted the game, ran over to them, and personally escorted them to the locker room to make sure they were okay.
That gesture, which went unnoticed by many, was not forgotten by the protagonists: Clara and Camille Morel, two 14-year-old Parisian sisters who worked as ball girls during their school holidays.
During the Rafael Nadal Honors Ceremony held at Roland Garros in 2025, many expected big surprises: appearances by former rivals such as Federer, Djokovic, and Murray, tributes from world tennis authorities, and even messages from young stars such as Alcaraz and Sinner.
But no one expected the appearance of Clara and Camille Morel, now two grown women, elegant and radiant, who walked to the center of the dance floor to the applause of the audience. They wore white suits discreetly embroidered with the silhouette of a tennis ball and the date “2005” and carried two small wooden boxes.
Nadal, upon seeing them, frowned for a moment, until the memory hit him hard. Upon recognizing them, his face changed completely: a mixture of surprise, tenderness, and pure emotion. The cameras captured how the Mallorcan placed his hand on his chest as his eyes filled with tears.
Upon arriving in front of Rafa, Clara spoke first: “It’s been 20 years since that day that marked our lives. Thanks to you, we learned about the kindness, humanity, and greatness not only of the tennis player, but of the person.”
Camille then opened one of the boxes. Inside was a worn tennis ball, signed by both twins and accompanied by a note: “Thank you for taking care of us when no one else would .” In the second box was a miniature replica of the Roland Garros trophy, but with the name “RAFA HUMANITARIAN” engraved on it.
The entire stadium rose to its feet. Nadal, unable to contain his emotion, hugged the two women tightly. “I can’t believe it… this means more than any trophy,” he said through tears.
Social media exploded in minutes. The story of the ballgirl twins, previously unknown to most of the public, quickly went viral. On Twitter, the hashtags #RafaTwins, #Rafa2025, and #ChampionHeart became global trends. Even Roger Federer posted a picture of the moment with the caption: “This is what makes Rafa great, far beyond tennis . “
Djokovic, for his part, said at a press conference: “I always admired Rafa for his determination, but today I admire him even more for his heart. That gesture, that story… it’s something only he could inspire.”
Clara and Camille later explained that that moment in 2005 changed their lives. “After the tournament, Rafa sent us letters asking how we were and encouraged us to follow our dreams. Today we are sports teachers, and every year we tell that story to our students to teach them about respect, humility, and empathy,” Camille said.
Nadal, with his usual humility, simply said: “I just did what I felt at that moment. I never imagined those girls would give me so much back 20 years later.”
And so, on a night designed to celebrate titles, trophies, and records, it was a story of humanity and gratitude that ended up capturing everyone’s hearts.
