Rafael Nadal to be honoured with ceremony at this year’s French Open following his retirement from tennis

Rafael Nadal is set to be honoured at this year’s French Open for his extraordinary achievements at Roland Garros.

The 38-year-old Spaniard is a 22-time Grand Slam champion, with a record 14 of those titles coming on the Paris clay.

The ceremony will take place on the opening Sunday of the tournament, 25 May, on Court Philippe-Chatrier after the day's matches are over.

Nadal, a two-time Olympic champion (Beijing 2008 singles, Rio 2016 doubles), retired in November last year.

His remarkable win-loss record at Roland Garros reads 112-4, and there are plans for him to take up an ambassadorial role at the Grand Slam.

French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton said of the tribute: “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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