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Taylor Fritz became the biggest casualty of the French Open so far on Monday, with the fourth seed beaten in his opening-round match at Roland Garros.

World No 4 Fritz never came close to discovering his best tennis out on Court Simonne-Mathieu, with the US Open runner-up falling 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to Daniel Altmaier.

It is a second top-10 win at the French Open for world No 66 Altmaier, with the German having stunned eighth seed Jannik Sinner in the second round back in 2023.

However, it is undoubtedly a disappointing loss for American ace Fritz, who has struggled with injury and consistency across the clay swing.

It is the first time since the 2022 US Open that he has lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam, and his ATP ranking will now suffer as a result.

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What ranking points will Fritz drop?

Fritz’s 2024 French Open campaign was the best of his career, with the US star reaching the second week at Roland Garros for the first time.

The American, seeded 12th at the time, was ultimately beaten in the fourth round by two-time runner-up Casper Ruud, though it was a breakthrough run for him at the second Grand Slam of the season.

Fritz earned 200 ranking points for his run to the round of 16, though, with only 10 points available in the opening round, will drop 190 points when the rankings update post-tournament.

That means the US star will fall from 4,675 points to 4,485 points, and he is guaranteed to fall out of the top four regardless of other results.

Who can take advantage?

Rankings wise, the big winner looks set to be world No 5 and Roland Garros fifth seed Jack Draper, who will not start his campaign until Tuesday.

Draper holds 4,610 ranking points and, with just opening-round points to defend at the tournament, is now guaranteed to be ranked above Fritz post-tournament.

The Brit is provisionally fourth in the live rankings, and he could become just the fourth British man to crack the top four, following Andy Murray, Tim Henman, and Greg Rusedski.

Draper will move to 4,650 points with a victory in his opening-round match against Mattia Bellucci on Tuesday, and would hypothetically hold 6,600 points with a run to the title.

That could be enough to move up to a high of world No 3, though he would need to both win the title and hope current world No 3 Alexander Zverev suffers an early exit.

Another player who could benefit from Fritz’s early defeat is world No 6 and sixth seed Djokovic, who also starts his campaign on Tuesday.

The Serbian holds 4,230 points in the official ATP Rankings and is defending 400 quarter-final points in Paris, which means he drops 390 points to 3,840 in the live rankings.

However, he would sit just 255 points behind Fritz if he were to defend his quarter-finalist points, and a run to the semi-final would see him also move ahead of the American.

Djokovic would hold 5,830 points if he were to win the title, potentially moving up to fourth, depending on Draper’s result.

Fritz’s exit is also good news for Lorenzo Musetti, the current world No 7 – who could also move above the American in the rankings.

Seeded eighth in Paris, the Italian is in the Fritz quarter of the draw and is now arguably the favourite to reach the semi-final.

Read Next: T365 Fantasy French Open predictions: Alcaraz ‘has the edge’ as Sabalenka ‘the player to beat’

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Emma Raducanu picked up just the second French Open win of her career with a battling triumph over Wang Xinyu in Paris.

In a contest that lasted close to three hours, the 22-year-old overcame a fierce challenge from her Chinese opponent to claim a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory on the second day of action at Roland Garros.

A high-quality start to the match saw Raducanu and Wang trade early breaks, with the Brit failing to serve out the set for the first time at 5-4 up.

World No 41 Raducanu immediately regained the upper hand with a quick break and served out the opening set despite a lengthy on-court medical timeout.

Despite a strong end to the opener, the Brit’s level dropped significantly at the start of set two and, perhaps affected by an apparent medical issue, quickly fell 5-1 down.

Wang twice failed to serve out the set but broke in the tenth game to force a decider, though Raducanu held her nerve in the deciding set to prevail.

“I was playing Xinyu, who’s a tough opponent – she can take the racket out of your hands,” said Raducanu to TNT Sports.

“I’m really happy to have found a way. The opening rounds are never easy. I haven’t been here in three years, so I think it was just a combination of a lot of things. Happy to have got through at least.

“I can take positives in the fact that a lot of top champions, top players, they’ve saved match points, really struggled, but they’ve given themselves another opportunity in the draw, another match.

“I think that is a big quality that is not necessarily easy to teach, where a shot is easier to kind of work on.

“Character, and heart, and fight, that really came through today. I’m really proud of that.”

Victory for Raducanu was her first at the French Open since 2022, where she beat Linda Noskova in the opening round before a round-two defeat to Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

She pulled out of the event in 2023 due to a long-term injury absence, while she withdrew in 2024 to prioritise her grass-court campaign.

With no ranking points to defend, Raducanu came into the tournament in an advantageous position.

And, the 22-year-old has provisionally moved to 1,389 ranking points after her opening win, moving her up four places to world No 37 in the WTA Live Rankings.

That does not guarantee she will be inside the top 40 by the end of the tournament, though it does make it a distinct possibility.

Raducanu has not been inside the top 40 of the WTA Rankings since 2022, having fallen outside of that threshold after losing in the opening round of her US Open title defence.

However, it will not be easy for Raducanu to progress any further in the draw, with a blockbuster second-round match against three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek up next.

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Swiatek has not tasted defeat at the French Open since 2021, and a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Rebecca Sramkova in round one was her 22nd consecutive victory at the tournament.

The Pole is the most-played opponent of Raducanu’s career, though the head-to-head does not make for good reading from the Brit’s perspective.

Swiatek has won all four of their meetings and all eight sets contested between the two, including a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing when they faced off at the Australian Open back in January.

The round-two contest between the two is set to take place on Wednesday.

“I’m very happy to have given myself another chance in the draw,” added Raducanu.

“I felt the noise around the match [versus Swiatek] even before our first rounds, so I’m looking forward to going out there with not much pressure on me.

“I think my game is in a pretty good place, so it’s a good challenge.”

Read Next: Emma Raducanu reveals how Mark Petchey ‘has helped me’ and keen on ‘having a conversation’ with Andy Murray

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The battle between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could dominate men’s tennis for the next decade and former British No 1 Tim Henman has given his verdict on who he believes will win the most Grand Slam titles.

No 2 seed Alcaraz is aiming to defend his French Open title at Roland Garros over the next couple of weeks and he could face world No 1 Sinner in what would be their first Grand Slam final.

Alcaraz currently has four Grand Slam titles on his record and Sinner has three, with Henman suggesting the young Spaniard has an edge on his Italian rival.

“The first area that Alcaraz has an edge over Sinner is his movement,” said Henman, speaking at a TNT Sport and discovery+ event ahead of Roland Garros. “He’s one of the best movers I’ve ever seen on a tennis court.

“When we look at the Alcaraz vs Sinner contest, I would say the other big difference is that Alcaraz has more ways to play, more variety.

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“On the other hand, that can also work to Sinner’s advantage. He has a very simple game. He doesn’t need to confuse himself. His serve is very effective and his ball striking on his forehand and backhand is incredible.

“I watched him practise in Rome on the side of the court and his ball striking was phenomenal. He strikes the ball so hard and with so much effortless power.

“He’s tall, long arms, long levers and his timing is exceptional. So Sinner’s game is a little more straight forward.”

Henman went on to highlight a big area of Alcaraz’s game that could be improved, as he suggests the variety in his game can sometimes confuse him.

“I would say one area he could improve on is his shot selection,” continued Henman. “That really of his game is not always easy for him as he has so many options.

“That is where I feel Alcaraz can improve as he gets more experience, as he will understand when he needs to play certain shots. It’s a great rivalry so far.”

When asked to pick whether Alcaraz or Sinner will finish the career with more Grand Slam titles, Henman came down on the side of the Spaniard.

“Alcaraz eventually will win more Grand Slam titles,” adds Henman. “To achieve what he has done already at the age of 21 is incredible, but it feels like there is so much more to come from Alcaraz.

“With Alcaraz, we are in a conversation with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic and that’s the slight question mark with Alcaraz. I love watching him play, he’s absolutely brilliant, but there are times when he lacks the discipline around shot selection.

“When you are talking about building that Grand Slam tally and getting into double figures, that’s the question mark for me.”

Watch every moment of the French Open live and exclusive on discovery+

READ NEXT: The ranking points Alcaraz, Djokovic, Sinner, Zverev & co will defend at French Open

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Emma Raducanu is at ease with Mark Petchey’s dual role her coach and a commentator while the 2021 US Open winner also revealed she is hoping to “have a conversation” with Andy Murray.

The 22-year-old first teamed up with Petchey during the Miami Open and they had instant success as she took out two seeded players to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time while she also made it to the fourth round of the Italian Open.

Petchey, of course, has a good track record as a coach as he mentored a young Murray to climb into the top 50 of the ATP Rankings early in his career and many believe he is the man to Raducanu back up the rankings.

But he is currently also be working as a commentator and will do some work during the French Open with many worried it could have a negative impact on Raducanu.

However, the world No 41 is happy with their arrangement as she feels Jane O’Donaghue and Tom Walsh will be of great assistance when Petchey is unavailable.

“It completely depends on the schedule that he gets here, I knew that going into it,” she stated.

“I think for him it’s a great opportunity to keep doing what he does so well and at the same time have fun hopefully being on court with me. I have Tom here who is going to help and Jane, when he isn’t available. And that’s how it’s going to go.

“I think being a lot more self-sufficient is something Mark has helped me with the last few weeks. Since Miami I think one thing that is a great sign of a coach is when you don’t necessarily feel like you need them every shot, every point, so he’s really helped me to figure things out for myself.”

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One person whose advice Raducanu will also seek out in the coming weeks is former world No 1 Murray.

The last time they spoke was at Wimbledon in 2024 when they were due to team up in the mixed doubles before Raducanu withdrew as she wanted to focus on the singles.

It became a hot topic of debate as it was Murray’s last Wimbledon event and Raducanu is hoping to chat with the three-time Grand Slam winner.

“I hope he’s forgiven me for last year, I still feel bad about it,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him around and having a conversation.

“I think he would give great advice, he’s been in a similar situation and would probably understand a lot of things that I’m also going through. But as to anything more, I don’t know, that’s very far out of thought.”

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Rafael Nadal paid a touching tribute to Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray during his emotional retirement ceremony at the French Open on Sunday.

Djokovic, Federer, and Murray received a raptuous reception as they stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier to pay tribute to Nadal, seven months on from the final match of his career.

‘King of Clay’ Nadal was visibly emotional throughout his ceremony at Roland Garros, where he won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

It was the event that came to define the Spaniard’s career, with the 38-year-old winning an incredible 112 matches at the tournament, losing just four times.

Nadal and his ‘Big Four’ rivals helped redefine dominance in the men’s game, with 69 Grand Slam titles between them, and the Spaniard celebrated his greatest rivals with a poignant message on court.

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Nadal’s speech

“After all these years fighting for everything it’s unbelievable how the time changes perspective of everything. You don’t know yet Novak, probably you know already Andy. With Roger we have talked about it a couple times.

“All of the nerves, pressure, strange feelings you feel when we see each other when we are rivals, it’s completely different when you finish your career. At the end, now, it’s all about being happy about everything that we achieved.

“At the end, all of us achieved our dreams. We became tennis players, played in the most important stages of our careers. I think we built amazing rivalries, but at the same time in a good way.

“We showed the world that we can fight as hard as possible, but being good colleagues and respect each other very well. And for me, it means a lot that you are all here.

“You gave me some hard times on court honestly, but I really enjoyed pushing myself to the limit every single day to compete with all of you.

“At the end tennis is just a game. Sometimes we feel a bit more. But we understand at the end of the day, it’s really only a game. What it means for me that all of you are here is everything.

“It’s a great message to the world that we can be good friends even if we had the best rivalries. Thank you very very much for everything during all these years.

“I really hope and I’m sure we will continue doing positive things for our sport. Our legacy is there, but we need to keep building things that helps tennis keep growing. I’m sure we will make beautiful things together.

“Thank you very much for everything. And all the best.”

Read Next: Rafael Nadal’s greatest French Open milestones ahead of official farewell

The post Rafael Nadal’s full message to ‘Big 4’ rivals amid emotional French Open farewell appeared first on Tennis365.

Tennis legend Chris Evert has given her verdict on the alarming slide in form suffered by defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek and admits the fear factor she used to take onto a clay court has gone for now.

Four-time Roland Garros queen Swiatek has endured a painful clay court season, with heavy defeats at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open confirming her slide in form is not just a temporary blip.

Now 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Evert has admitted the Swiatek collapse is nothing new, as she has been on the slide for some time.

“I don’t think it’s just the last two weeks. She hasn’t won a tournament in a year. She hasn’t one a tournament since last year’s French Open. So this has been this has been going on for a while,” Evert told TNT Sports.

“Slowly that just builds and builds and builds the more you lose the more You lose confidence in your game. And then the more the other players feel that they’ve got a real shot. And I think When I watched Coco beat her, Coco, I think has beaten her the last two times, and I think they were going forehand to forehand the whole time because both of their forehands are weaknesses and Coco’s forehand held up better than Iga’s.

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“So to me, the players know a strategy now how to play Iga and they know she’s not invincible anymore because she’s lost some matches. So, it’s a combination of Iga losing confidence because she hasn’t won a tournament in a year. How can you be a number one player? You know, because she was number one at some point. You can’t be a number one player and not win a tournament for a year.

“And so it’s that component losing confidence, but it’s also the component of the other players are like, they think that they have a shot now against her on the clay. And before that, they didn’t.

“So it’s those two things that are working in the life of Iga right now. And by the way, I hope she finds her level. I was a champion and I know how it feels when you lose that edge against the other players and she’s a nice person, she’s good person, she’s nice person and I hope that level that made her the greatest clay court or maybe one of the greatest clay court players ever.”

Swiatek posted a positive doping test last year, after a drug she was using to help her sleep was contaminated and she was forced to serve a one-month ban.

While it is widely accepted she was not at fault for that incident, Evert believes the stress of her doping case may have played a role in her dip in form.

“We didn’t talk about the doping case,” continued Evert. “I think that really affected her personally because she’s very aware of what people think about her. And I think, that’s very important that she wants to be looked up to and respected and she wants to be a role model.
In her eyes, that was tarnished it a little bit.

“I think that emotionally upset her, for sure. Because all of this happened around the same time after the French Open, that happened. And then the results weren’t what she wanted them to be. She was number one in the world then. And then she lost her number one ranking.

“She’s definitely a confidence player like most top players. She’s a confidence player and I don’t think she has that high level of confidence that she used to have. And I think that I can tell really by her forehand, she seems to be mishitting a few forehands and in these long rallies, these girls, these young ladies are just, you know, are just attacking that forehands side. Her forehand’s breaking down, it’s broken down more than we’ve seen it.

“And her serve needs to improve. The second serve is still a target for these returners like Sabalanka and Coco who have returned so well. And it’s a target. And the fact that like she’s lost to Ostapenko like six times in a row now. Records like that have to chip away at her confidence. How does she get that back?”

When asked how Swiatek could rediscover her best form, Evert offered up some candid advice.

“I think she just has to really get it back the first couple matches that she plays at the French Open,” she added.

“She’s just got to go out there and not be tentative and just go for her shots, be aggressive, maybe make the court smaller, hit down the middle maybe a lot more, get her timing, continue to work on her serve. But again, I think in her favour is fact that the surface is. The speed, she likes the speed. It’s a little slow, slow medium.

“Whereas the other clay court tournaments, I think were faster. So she’s gonna have more time to set up for her shots. And you know, when she walks down that court, again, she’s won it four times. So she feels at home there. And that’s gonna give her maybe two games a set, you know of confidence. But she can work her way back in the first week. She can work her way back and get her game back in the first week of the French. And we’ll see if that happens.

“I’m going to add one more thing – it’s like the same thing when I played Martina [Navratilova] and I lost 13 times in a row. It’s like sometimes you have to bluff yourself.

“You have to blind yourself and you have to bluff yourself. You have be confident, even though you don’t feel 100% confident. You just keep talking to yourself and talking yourself into just going, going all out and going for your shots.

“Go back to basics, you know, get your footwork, get your, get, get you footwork working, accelerate with spin and big targets. You know, you have to go back to being that simplicity that made you a champion.”

Watch every moment of the French Open live and exclusive on discovery+

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The Rafael Nadal tributes flowed across 2024 as it became increasingly clear that it would be his final year as a tennis player, but Roland Garros was the place where his official send-off needed to be staged.

He had a farewell party after his final French Open match against Alexander Zverev last year and was also given a Roland Garros ovation after his Olympic Games story ended at the venue a little under a year ago.

We had the poorly received ceremony after his final career match at the Davis Cup in November, but that lacked some of the sparkle this remarkable champion deserved.

So when Roland Garros chiefs declared they would take charge of Nadal’s final great moment on their stage at the start of this year’s French Open, it felt like the goodbye he merits was finally about to be delivered.

Nadal already has a statue at Roland Garros and that will stand as a lasting tribute to his greatness, with his 14 wins in Paris arguably the greatest achievement in all of sport and not just tennis.

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Tiger Woods won 15 major titles in his entire golfing career and is considered to be the game’s greatest player.

Lewis Hamilton has won seven Formula 1 world championships and is hailed as the best driver of all-time.

Yet Nadal won double that amount of titles at the French Open alone, with his dominance on Court Philippe-Chatrier as complete as anything we have seen in any sport.

And before Novak Djokovic fans start to throw up familiar aguments that their man has won more majors, spent more weeks as world No 1 and leads his head-to-head record with Nadal, they need to listen to their own hero when he explains why the Spanish legend will always have a title the Serbia cannot own – King of Clay.

In an interview with Serbian broadcaster RTS, Djokovic was asked if there was any reason besides Nadal’s dominance that he was not able to win the French Open earlier.

“Probably not, to be completely honest,” Djokovic replied.

“For me, but for Federer as well. Nadal was unbeatable there for a long time — he lost only a few times at Court Philippe-Chatrier. Every time you walk on that court there with him, he is the favourite.

“Even at the Olympics, he had injury trouble, I was in better form, but still, you know it’s the highest mountain to climb.

“He is the biggest, perhaps the only reason why I don’t have more Roland Garros titles, but I say – every win against him there is worth double.”

There is no doubt that Djokovic and Roger Federer would have numerous more French Open titles on their record if it were not for Nadal, but this is a sportsman who mastered the art of playing on clay like no other.

He won the title at Roland Garros on his first attempt in 2005 and went on to compile a truly staggering 112–4 winning record at the venue he made his own.

His lasoo-like left-handed forehand had so much spin applied that it exploded off the court and picked a hole in the game of his great rival Federer by exposing his weakness playing high backhands.

Nadal’s underrated serve dragged opponents into positions that allowed him to dictate play and hold the upper hand, with some opponents struggling to win points against an opponent who was almost unbeatable for much of his French Open career.

As his aura built, that invincible tag saw most opponents hoisting the white flag and waiting to be beaten before they shared the red clay court with him.

His 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Federer in the 2008 French Open final is arguably the greatest exhbition of clay court season of all-time and his 6-0, 6-2 7-5 win against Djokovic in the 2020 final was another highlight.

Yet any time Nadal stepped on Court Philippe-Chatrier, those fortunate to watch a master at work knew they were in the presence of someone very special.

No tennis player will win 14 titles at any Grand Slam again and it is hard to imagine any athlete will ever match the achievements of Nadal at the French Open for as long as sport is played.

READ NEXT: How Novak Djokovic broke a Rafael Nadal record with his 100th career title

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The second Grand Slam of the year is underway and the upsets are likely to flow at Roland Garros after a tennis year that has thrown up so many shock results.

Iga Swiatek’s uncertain form as she prepares to defend her French Open title has been one of the big talking points of the clay court season so far, while uncertainty hovers over Novak Djokovic and world No 1 Jannik Sinner for different reasons.

Here are some tips for the next two weeks in Paris, with the draw shaping what we can expect on the red dirt.

DJOKOVIC’S BIG CHANCE

Novak Djokovic may have needed a favourable draw to give himself a chance to get into top gear at Roland Garros and that is what he has been given.

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Even though he toasted his 38th birthday a few days ago, the 24-time Grand Slam-winning legend continues to believe he can flick the switch and play his best tennis in the tournaments that still motivate him and his path in Paris certainly appears to give him the best chance to do that.

Mackenzie MacDonald should be a comfortable opening win and Daniil Medvedev may be a tough test in round four, but Djokovic could be firing on all cylinders if he gets through that match and reaches the quarter-finals in Paris again.

Djokovic’s success in winning his 100th career title in Geneva on Saturday ticked off one box in his list of remaining targets. Now he wants a 25th Grand Slam.

Verdict: Can this version of Djokovic beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner on clay? It seems unlikely, but you write off this icon at your peril.

THE IGA QUESTION

Is Iga Swiatek’s demise on a tennis court terminal?

The sight of the queen of clay losing 6-1, 6-1 to Coco Gauff at the Madrid Open and following it up with an equally comprehensive defeat against Danielle Collins at the Italian Open left so many questions about where the four-time Roland Garros champion is with her game and her mindset heading to Paris.

She may well roll through her opponents in the opening rounds, but recent history tells us that any sign of pressure or an opponent threatening her dominance can quickly lead to her downfall.

Verdict: Swiatek would need to shake off the biggest slump in form in her career to defend her title in Paris. It will be a step too far for her, but she can bounce back in future years.

SINNER’S BIGGEST TEST

Carlos Alcaraz’s dismantling of Jannik Sinner in the second set of their Rome Masters final gave us a hint that the world No.1 can be beaten when his opponent and their tactics are applied to perfection.

Sinner’s sideways movements second to none, but Alcaraz exposed a potential weakness moving back and forward in straight lines as he deployed his drop shot so effectively in Rome.

Trading with Sinner from the baseline is a recipe for disaster, as his weight of shot is too much for everyone to handle, but Alcaraz highlighted how you can get him off balance and chip into his confidence.

Verdict: Sinner should get to the final, but he will be second favourite if Alcaraz is facing him again.

ZVEREV’S PROBLEM

Alexander Zverev has had a pretty disastrous clay court season.

He won an event in Germany last month, but her was up against moderate opposition for most of that week and admitted after the event that he didn’t play at his highest level.

His early defeats in Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Munich highlighted an alarming collapse in confidence that leaves the world No 3 exposed heading to Paris.

Zverev was a finalist at Roland Garros last year and has a huge number of points to defend, but he is not the same player 12 months on.

Verdict: Zverev will do well to reach the latter stages, especially with his nemesis Francisco Cerundolo in his section of the draw.

RADUCANU’S REVIVAL

If the clay court season has been a nightmare for Zverev, it has been a lot more positive for Britain’s Emma Raducanu.

The 2021 US Open champion has openly admitted she does not feel comfortable on the red dirt, but she has thrown herself into the challenge in recent weeks and has served up some positive results.

The back problem she suffered in her defeat against Danielle Collins in Strasbourg is a concern, but a fully fit Raducanu could be a threat in Paris.

A potential second round match against Iga Swiatek beckons and while their previous meetings have been one-sided in favour of the Polish star, the balance of power could shift as Raducanu’s improved form contrasts from a slide in fortunes for the four-time French Open champion.

Verdict: Any wins in Paris will represent progress for Raducanu, with the upcoming grass court season her bigger focus now.

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The post Emma Raducanu and Novak Djokovic get golden French Open chance as Iga Swiatek and Alex Zverev face rankings meltdown appeared first on Tennis365.

The Big Four will be reunited at the French Open for Rafael Nadal’s farewell ceremony in Paris with Novak Djokovic confirming he will attend the tribute along with Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Nadal bowed out of tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November 2024 and Spaniards paid homage to their hero after the country’s exit from the tournament.

Djokovic, Federer and Murray were initially expected to attend that ceremony, but they were only due to arrive later in the week as many believed Spain would reach the semi-final and/or final.

However, the host nation lost against the Netherlands in the last eight and the big ceremony was a bit watered down, much to the frustration of Nadal’s former coach Carlos Moya, Spain’s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer and several others in the tennis community.

But there will be another farewell in Paris on Sunday as Roland Garros will wave goodbye to its favourite son following his historic 14 Grand Slam titles on the clay courts.

French Open Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo stated: “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.

Despite Nadal’s requests not to have a big party, several big stars will be at the French Open to attend the ceremony, including 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic.

“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.”

Tennis News

Rafael Nadal’s ‘really sad’ retirement ceremony slammed ahead of French Open farewell

Novak Djokovic’s 100 career titles: A complete breakdown of Serb’s historic haul

Nadal’s heir, Carlos Alcaraz, has also indicated that he will attend with his first-round of the 2025 French Open only taking place on Monday, while Iga Swiatek is also expected to be on Court Philippe Chatrier for the “surprise”.

The ceremony will only get underway after the day’s matches are concluded with events unlikely to start before 18:00 local time.

Djokovic won his 100th ATP Tour singles title at the Geneva Open on Saturday in what has been a difficult 2025 so far.

He has reached only two finals – he finished runner-up at the 2025 Miami Open – since winning his 99th title at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August last year and he admitted Nadal’s retirement had a big impact on him.

When asked if it was difficult to be motivated now that his great rival Nadal is no longer playing, he told Lematin: “Yes, it was hard to stay motivated without him. I honestly didn’t think it would be like this.

“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.”

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Novak Djokovic made yet more tennis history as he battled back to beat Hubert Hurkacz and claim a historic 100th ATP Tour title at the Geneva Open.

After defeats in the Shanghai Masters final towards the tail end of 2024 and at the Miami Open back in March, Djokovic finally claimed title No 100 with an enthralling victory in Geneva.

The Serbian was a set down to world No 31 Hurkacz and a break down in the final set, though he battled back to seal a 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) triumph.

Djokovic paid a touching tribute to Hurkacz, who is battling back from a meniscus issue similar to the one the Serbian faced in 2024, in his post match speech.

“I know it’s a bitter taste in the mouth to lose the match like this,” said the 38-year-old.

“I’m sorry for that. I think that you were, for most of the match, the better player and for me it was a miracle to win this match. Obviously I fought, but I want to give you huge credit for playing some amazing tennis this week.

“Obviously, I know how it feels to be injured with the knee, and it’s definitely a big challenge to come back. You managed to cut your comeback very short and reach already a very high level.

“I wish you all the best in Paris, in London. I really enjoy playing you, but maybe shorter matches in the future will be nice.”

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Victory was huge for Djokovic, who not only ended talk about whether he would finally win his 100th title, but also now heads into Roland Garros with four strong clay-court matches under his belt.

The Serbian had a 0-2 record for the clay court season heading into Geneva, beaten in his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid.

Djokovic’s Geneva triumph means he becomes just the third man in the Open Era to win 100+ singles titles, following Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).

However, he has now become the first man in the Open Era to win at least one title for 20 straight seasons.

Djokovic won his first ATP title at the Dutch Open back in July 2006 and has won at least one title every year since then, completing two decades of continued success.

The Serbian now moves ahead of Rafael Nadal, with whom he was previously level on 19 consecutive seasons with at least one singles title to his name.

Federer sits in third place with 15 consecutive seasons, with Ivan Lendl winning a title for 14 straight seasons and Connors claiming silverware for 13 straight seasons at his peak.

Djokovic will now head to Paris for the French Open, where he has won three of his 100 titles.

Already the only man to win every Grand Slam title on at least three separate occasions, he will be hunting for a fourth Roland Garros title and record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic’s French Open campaign will begin against Mackenzie McDonald.

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