PARIS — The French Open pays tribute to 14-time champion Rafael Nadal on the opening day of the Grand Slam subsequent month, a 12 months after the Spaniard performed his closing match on the clay of Roland Garros, organizers stated Thursday.
Nadal suffered his earliest French Open exit after a first-round loss to Alexander Zverev final 12 months however didn’t say then if it was the final time that his adoring Parisian followers would watch him in motion on the main.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion ultimately referred to as time on his glittering profession after representing Spain within the Davis Cup in November and can now return to his happiest searching floor for a grand celebration of his achievements.
“Rafa made historical past at Roland Garros, and his 14 titles will maybe stay unequaled,” event director and two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo informed reporters. “The ceremony in honor of Rafa will happen on the finish of the day session on Could 25 on Courtroom Philippe Chatrier.
“The concept is to have a imaginative and prescient for the longer term and in addition to have fun those that thrilled us previously.”
The French Open stated it could additionally honor 2000 girls’s champion Mary Pierce and native favourite Richard Gasquet, who will retire after the event this 12 months.
The full prize pool for the Could 25 to June 8 event has been set at 56.352 million euros ($64.11 million), up 5.21% from 2024, Mauresmo stated.
Vital pay hikes on the Grand Slams have been central to the calls for of the world’s high gamers of their letter to the 4 majors lately, and the French Open has stated it will likely be open to constructive conferences.
In the meantime, French Tennis Federation chief Gilles Moretton stated the Grand Slam wouldn’t break custom and exchange line judges with digital line calling regardless of the opposite majors embracing the expertise extra broadly.
Wimbledon will undertake digital line calling this 12 months, becoming a member of the US Open and Australian Open.
Roland Garros has not favored an identical transfer regardless of the provision of digital line calling expertise particular to clay courts as traces left by the ball on the floor can assist umpires with their decision-making.
“I believe we’re proper to maintain our referees and linesmen at Roland Garros. The federation desires to maintain our referees for so long as we are able to,” Moretton stated. “I hope we’ll be capable to preserve it in our tournaments sooner or later.”