Rafael Nadal, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, is set to be celebrated in a special ceremony at this year’s French Open.
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo announced that the ceremony would take place on Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, 25 May, following the day session.
Nadal, who retired in November, holds the record for the most singles titles at a single Grand Slam event, with 14 victories at Roland Garros.
His final Grand Slam triumph came at the French Open in 2022, cementing his legacy in tennis history. Reflecting on his achievements, Mauresmo said, “Rafa made history at Roland Garros, and his 14 titles will perhaps remain unequalled.”
The French Open will also pay tribute to other notable figures, including the retiring Richard Gasquet and 2000 champion Mary Pierce, in recognition of their contributions to the sport.
Other updates for the tournament include a 5.21% increase in prize money, bringing the total to €56.3 million (£48.35m), and a later starting time for the men’s semi-finals, which will now begin at 19:00 local time instead of 17:30.
French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton confirmed that Roland Garros would continue to use line judges rather than adopting electronic line-calling technology—a decision that sets it apart from the other Grand Slam tournaments, as Wimbledon plans to introduce electronic line-calling this year.
