New Delhi, April 18: Tennis legend Rafael Nadal will be honoured at the upcoming French Open 2025 in a special ceremony recognizing his extraordinary achievements at Roland Garros, according to Olympics.com.
The tribute will take place on Sunday, May 25, on the iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier, following the day’s matches. The ceremony will celebrate Nadal’s unparalleled legacy on the Paris clay, where he won a record 14 French Open titles — a feat unlikely to be matched in Grand Slam history.
Nadal, 38, officially retired in November 2024, closing a glittering career that includes 22 Grand Slam singles titles and two Olympic gold medals (Beijing 2008 singles, Rio 2016 doubles). His astonishing record at Roland Garros stands at 112 wins and just 4 losses.
Speaking about the tribute, French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton said,
“It’s a love story. He has deep respect for the tournament and for clay, and we have the same respect for the player and the ambassador he can become for Roland Garros and for the federation.”
Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo hinted that the ceremony will have surprise elements:
“Rafa has, of course, marked the history of Roland Garros in many different ways… He will not be playing this year, but he will be very present by our side. We want it to be a surprise.”
Nadal claimed his first French Open title in 2005 and his last in 2022. His final appearance came in 2024, where he was defeated in the first round by Alexander Zverev, one of only three players to ever beat him at the French Open — alongside Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic.
In addition to his Grand Slam heroics, Nadal also competed in the 2024 Olympics held in Paris, where he was ousted in the second round by Djokovic in singles and reached the doubles quarterfinals with Carlos Alcaraz.
The 2025 ceremony not only marks the end of an era but also a potential new chapter for Nadal, with discussions ongoing about an ambassadorial role at Roland Garros moving forward.