Former Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal smiles during a tribute to his career in Madrid, Spain. AP/PTI

The French Open will honor retired tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a special tribute ceremony on Court Philippe-Chatrier on May 25, the tournament’s opening day. The 14-time champion, who announced his retirement in November, will be celebrated for his remarkable legacy at Roland Garros, where he already has a statue and will be featured in the tournament museum.
French Open director Amélie Mauresmo has confirmed plans for an exceptional tribute to the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
“Rafa has left his mark on the history of the French Open in so many ways, that’s why a tribute ceremony will be held in his honor. We want the tribute to be special, exceptional. We want it to be a surprise for everyone,” Mauresmo said.
Mauresmo revealed that organizers had initially planned the tribute for last year, but Nadal declined at the time.
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“We wanted to do the tribute last year, to be transparent, but he refused at the time. He wasn’t sure that it was his last Roland Garros. Now that he is retired, he is happy to receive it,” she explained.
Nadal’s final appearance at Roland Garros came in 2024, where he was defeated by Alexander Zverev in the first round.
French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton emphasized the special connection between Nadal and the tournament.
“Rafael Nadal and Roland Garros are inseparable. We have a strong history together. Amélie and I went to see him not long ago because we wanted to do something important for him. We still had some frustration from last year,” Moretton said.
The tournament organizers also announced plans to build on the 2024 Paris Olympics’ success by creating a fan zone at Place de la Concorde. The venue will feature giant screens showing matches and will be free for up to 5,000 fans.
“We saw an incredible atmosphere last summer in Paris. We plan on surfing on this success,” Mauresmo added.