Rafael Nadal will be honoured with a special tribute ceremony at the French Open on Sunday, bringing together tennis's legendary "Big Four" for a rare reunion.
The farewell event will celebrate Nadal's extraordinary legacy at Roland Garros, where he claimed a record 14 Grand Slam titles on the clay courts.
The ceremony represents a significant moment for tennis fans worldwide, as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray will all gather to pay homage to their long-time rival and friend.
Djokovic has confirmed he will attend the tribute alongside Federer and Murray, ensuring the "Big Four" will be present for the emotional occasion.
Rafael Nadal will be honoured with a special tribute ceremony at the French Open on Sunday, bringing together tennis's legendary "Big Four" for a rare reunion
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"It's going to be a very special, very emotional moment for everyone," the tennis great told Lematin.ch.
"With Federer and Murray, we'll be there for the ceremony. It's going to be a beautiful moment."
The reunion holds particular significance as the four players dominated men's tennis for over a decade, creating one of sport's greatest rivalries.
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The ceremony is scheduled to take place after Sunday's matches conclude, with proceedings unlikely to begin before 6pm local time.
Despite Nadal's personal requests not to have a grand celebration, Roland Garros officials have pressed ahead with plans for a significant tribute.
French Open Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo has indicated the event will be something special, stating: "We want it to be something special, exceptional, but I don't want to say too much so that it's a surprise for everyone."
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Nadal officially retired from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November 2024, where Spanish fans paid tribute to their national hero following the country's exit from the tournament.
The original farewell was somewhat subdued as Spain unexpectedly lost to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. This disappointed many in the tennis community, including Nadal's former coach Carlos Moya and Spain's Davis Cup captain David Ferrer, who had hoped for a more fitting celebration of the champion's career.
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Carlos Alcaraz, widely considered Nadal's heir in Spanish tennis, has also confirmed his attendance at the ceremony, with his first-round match at the 2025 French Open scheduled for Monday.
Polish star Iga Swiatek is expected to join the celebration on Court Philippe Chatrier as well.
Djokovic enters the tribute ceremony fresh from claiming his 100th ATP Tour singles title at the Geneva Open on Saturday, a milestone achievement in what has otherwise been a challenging 2025 season.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic recently worked together at four tennis tournaments
ReutersThe Serbian star has admitted that Nadal's retirement significantly affected his motivation. "Yes, it was hard to stay motivated without him. I honestly didn't think it would be like this," he said.
"A part of me went with him, and it's been a challenge to find my motivation again. Luckily, there are other things that inspire me."
