Nadal, a 14-time Roland Garros champion whose record may never be surpassed, was honored by tennis rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Roland Garros opened with tears, chants and a sea of brick-red T-shirts reading 'Merci Rafa' as the French Open paid an emotional tribute on Sunday to Rafael Nadal, the man who conquered its courts like no other.

In a touching pre-match moment at Roland‑Garros, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz paused on Court Philippe‑Chatrier to take a photograph of Rafael Nadal’s immortalized footprint plaque before his semifinal against Lorenzo Musetti.