Across the hallowed terre battue of Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal etched a legacy far deeper than his celebrated 14 titles suggest. In 115 matches, only three times was he dragged to a decisive fifth set—each time, he emerged victorious. His will proved unbreakable under the ultimate pressure. Eight times, the reigning world number ones, namely, Roger Federer (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008) and Novak Djokovic (2012, 2013, 2020, and 2022), fell before Rafa’s relentless clay-court prowess. Spanning two decades, Nadal displayed extraordinary dominance on the red dirt. Even his final chapter in 2024, a poignant first-round defeat against Alexander Zverev before his November retirement, couldn’t diminish the legacy already standing. Months after his retirement, Rafa’s now all set to return to his favorite venue in style!

In February, French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton promised, “There will, necessarily, be something for Rafael Nadal, a very big tribute. A real tribute, very important. We are attached to it.” Director Amelie Mauresmo echoed the sentiment, saying, “We want the tribute to be special, exceptional. We want it to be a surprise for everyone.” Now the time has come!

The undisputed King of Clay is about to get the royal treatment he deserves at Roland Garros. The tournament’s official social media accounts teased: “A ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 25 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, after the three matches of the day session.” Another post showed Rafa holding the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy, which he lifted 14 times. Nadal himself shared the excitement, reposting the announcement on his Instagram story with a simple, heartfelt message: “See you soon, Paris! ☺”

This isn’t just any tribute—it’s shaping up to be a grand, emotional send-off. Nadal’s resume at Roland Garros is the stuff of legend: 14 titles, a 112-4 match record, and a love story with the Parisian clay that began with his first Grand Slam win in 2005 and stretched all the way to his last major victory there in 2022. Last year, Nadal declined a tribute as he wasn’t sure if he was ready to say goodbye. But now, with his retirement official after the 2024 Davis Cup, the stage is finally set for a celebration worthy of his achievements!

Interesting fact: The last time Nadal played at Stade Roland Garros was a few months after the 2024 French Open, at the Paris Olympics to be precise. However, he lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round in men’s singles. In the doubles, he managed to progress to the quarterfinals alongside Carlos Alcaraz in doubles.

Since Rafa won’t feature at Roland Garros as a player this time, the spotlight is on the current generation. All eyes are on Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion, who is now dubbed ‘Prince of Clay’ to make it two French Open titles in a row. Can he do it?

Carlos Alcaraz shares his thoughts on meeting Rafa’s French Open legacy

Carlos Alcaraz keeps rewriting tennis history. At 19, he became the youngest player ever to claim the world number one ranking after winning his first Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open. And by 2025, he has already stacked up three more majors,  including a dramatic five-set victory over Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open.

Since last year’s Roland Garros, Carlitos has been nearly untouchable on clay, posting an 18-1 singles record. The only loss? A tough one against Novak Djokovic at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This year, Alcaraz bounced back from the sunshine double setbacks with a statement win at the Monte Carlo Masters—his first title there. After lifting the trophy, he didn’t shy away from acknowledging the pressure. “A lot of people have really high expectations on me, on having a really good clay season. Probably they want me to win almost every tournament, so it’s [going to] be difficult to deal with it, I guess,” he admitted.

But Alcaraz has found the secret sauce: perspective. “No matter what happens on court—if I win, if I lose—I just have to leave the court happy. I’m proud about everything I have done.” This mindset powered his Monte Carlo triumph and keeps the hype alive.

Even tennis legend Bjorn Borg is a believer, declaring, “I believe that Alcaraz will achieve the same or more than Nadal. He has the right mentality and can play on all surfaces. With a bit of luck, he will be the king of tennis.” Now, that’s some high praise coming from an 11-time Grand Slam champ!

So, can Alcaraz match Nadal’s legacy at the French Open while his idol receives a tribute at the event? What do you think?