19 April,2025 05:14 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Rafael Nadal. Pic/AFP
Rafael Nadal will be honoured at this year's French Open in celebration of his extraordinary legacy and unparalleled achievements at Roland Garros, according to Olympics.com.
The 38-year-old Spaniard, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, holds a record 14 titles on the Parisian clay. The tribute is scheduled to take place on May 25, the tournament's opening day, on Court Philippe-Chatrier, following the conclusion of the day's matches.
Nadal, who officially retired in November of last year, also boasts two Olympic gold medals, singles in Beijing 2008 and doubles in Rio 2016. At Roland Garros, he compiled an astonishing win-loss record of 112-4. Plans are underway for him to assume an ambassadorial role at the Grand Slam in the future.
Speaking of the upcoming tribute, French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton told Olympics.com, "It's a love story. I think it's important to talk about a love story because he has deep respect for the tournament, for clay, and we have the same respect for the player, for the ambassador he can become for Roland Garros and for the federation."
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Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo added that the specifics of the ceremony will remain under wraps. "Rafa has, of course, marked the history of Roland Garros in many different ways and his 14 titles will perhaps remain unequalled in a Grand Slam tournament. He will not be playing this year at Roland Garros, but he will be very present by our side for this 2025 edition. Rafa has an important bond with Roland Garros. We want it to be a surprise," she said.
Nadal first claimed the Roland Garros title in 2005 and lifted his most recent trophy there in 2022. His final appearance came in the 2024 edition, where he was defeated in the first round by Alexander Zverev - only the third player ever to beat him at the tournament. The others include Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic, who has achieved the feat twice.
Nadal also competed on the red clay of Paris during last year's Olympics, where he exited the singles competition in the second round after a loss to eventual champion Novak Djokovic, and later bowed out in the doubles quarter-finals alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
(With inputs from ANI)
