Paris – Paris (AP) – Rafael Nadal’s The first game of the France Open in the main stadium of the tournament occurred on May 25, 2005, a victory in the set in the second round against Xavier Malisse. That did Nadal’s professional record in the 2-0 tournament, and he was starting on the road to what would end like An 112-4 brand and 14 championships In Paris.
On Sunday, 20 years after the day after that victory, Nadal was scheduled to return to the Philippe-Chaatrier Court, only instead of competing, the French Tennis Federation was going to be entertained by everything he achieved in the red clay.
“Celebrate the King” was the way the event was described in social networks by the official Roland-Garros feed. There was no exact time for the beginning of the ceremony, only the word that would begin after the three day diurnal session matches would end in Chatrier, so perhaps somewhere around 5 or 6 pm local time (11 am or noon et).
There were many active players in the program for day 1 of the second Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, of course, from Aryna Sabalenka in number 1 to twice Jasmine Paolini runner -up, from the open semifinalist of the United States, Ben Shelton to the medalists of the Paris Olympic Games, Zheng Qinwen and Lorenzo Musetti.
However, none, however, was likely to attract as much attention and adulation as the former 38 -year -old player with 22 Total Grand Slam titles and known for all as “Rafa”, who interpreted his Competitive Final Party in the Davis Cup In November. Some people did not think that the tribute to him after a defeat in his last appearance was up to what should have been, and The director of the Feliciano López event had to defend him.
Other tournaments postpone celebrations for Nadal this season, including Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
It seemed appropriate for everything that the next great show should come at the site of so many of those left -handed left -handed left -handed ones, so many sprints reached apparently unattainable shots by opponents, so many triumphs.
This is the way Nadal described fans in Paris: “They give me love and support every second that I have been in court.”
They were expected to pack the house on Sunday and sounded as if some players planned to take the scene, although at least one, four times champion of the France Open, IgA Swiatek, they would need to ensure that they would not interrupt their preparation for the competition.
“I need to be aware that, sure, I’m going to cry,” Swiatek said. “I would love to be there, because we should all gather and celebrate Rafa and what he did for our sport and what kind of inspiration it was and is still.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas, twice a slam finalist, even at the 2021 France Open, joked saying that Nadal won the trophy 29 times in Paris.
“It will be difficult,” said Tsitsipas, “see him disappear.”
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP tennis writer since 2002. He finds his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tenis
