French Open 2025: Rafael Nadal is celebrated at the tournament he won a record 14 titles

By Canadian Press on May 25, 2025.

PARIS (AP) — A ceremony honoring 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal has started Sunday at Court Philippe-Chatrier, the stadium where he won a record 14 championships at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament.

Thousands of spectators gave Nadal a standing ovation as he walked out from the doorway he strode through so often onto a court he ruled like no one ever has in the history of tennis. This time, though, instead of that familiar headband or the tape on his fingers or the capri pants he made famous early in his career, Nadal was wearing a dark suit and dark dress shirt.

He smiled broadly and waved at the applauding, adoring crowd, which seemed to occupy just about every seat in the 15,000-capacity venue.

As a video tribute began playing on the screens, Nadal bit his lower lip and appeared on the verge of tears.

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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press