The smiling snapshot was accompanied by a heartfelt tribute from Paolini to Nadal, whom she described as a "true inspiration to me and sports fans everywhere."

Standing at 10 meters tall, the video showcased images of Nadal through the years with the shimmering Eiffel Tower as a stunning backdrop.

"To see your career from the beginning to today was an honor," Williams wrote in a social media post saluting her fellow all-time great.

Federer penned an emotional tribute to his longtime rival ahead of Nadal's final tournament, writing that he "challenged [him] in ways no one else could."

"In the off-season, other players go to Maldives or Hawaii," she teased last week in Riyadh, "but I'll have too many commercials to shoot and no vacation."