Rafael Nadal to Receive Tribute at French Open

Organizers of the French Open have formally declared that Rafael Nadal, a 14-time champion, will be honored with a ceremony on the opening day of the tournament at the Philippe-Chatrier Court.

The 38-year-old tennis icon concluded his career last year following a defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands with a score of 6-4, 6-4 in a Davis Cup match.

Gilles Moretton, the president of the French Tennis Federation, shared his intentions for the Spanish player, suggesting he might become an ambassador for the event.

He stated, “We are pleased to announce our commitment to honoring Rafael Nadal. This decision seemed like a top priority.”

“This is a love story. It’s crucial to acknowledge this connection because of his profound respect for the tournament, for clay courts, and our reciprocal respect for the player and the potential ambassadorial role he could fulfill for Roland Garros and the federation.”

Roland Garros stands as the place where Nadal solidified his reputation by securing the title an impressive 14 times. His most recent Grand Slam victory occurred at Roland Garros in 2022.

However, Nadal’s final French Open appearance was against Alexander Zverev of Germany last year, where he was defeated in the first round by the then No. 4 player with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo mentioned plans to surprise Nadal during his farewell.

“Even though he won’t participate in this year’s Roland Garros, he will be closely involved in the 2025 edition,” she noted.

“Rafa has a significant connection to Roland Garros. We intend for it to be a surprise.”

Amelie Mauresmo also revealed that the tournament’s prize money has been increased by just over five percent, reaching 56.3 million euros.