Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 25, 2025 Spectators in the stands make a heart with special "Merci Rafa' tees provided for a tribute to former tennis player and record French Open winner Rafael Nadal REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
PARIS (Reuters) -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.
On the anniversary of the day he first walked on to the court 20 years ago for a second-round match against Xavier Malisse, Nadal returned as a hero to be celebrated by a crowd that has always embraced him as one of their own.
