Between June 2005 and his farewell appearance at the Roland Garros Stadium in May 2024, Rafael Nadal dispatched an array of adversaries to claim 14 French Open singles titles. Diminished by foot and abdominal injuries,

With the aid of shovels, brooms and wheelbarrows -- and a dose of elbow grease -- the 180 or so specialised staff, most of whom are temporary workers, toil from dawn till dusk to whip the 18 courts into pristine condition for the year's second Grand Slam.

The French Open is entering a new era this year now that Rafael Nadal has retired. Players tend to agree that it is a shame fans no longer will get to see him play at a tournament he won a record 14 times.

Rafael Nadal wrapped up his Roland Garros journey with a mind-blowing 112-4 score. The king of clay lifted 14 trophies at his beloved event and suffered only four defeats during 19 trips to Paris. Alongside those four losses,

During his press conference, Sinner praised Rafael Nadal and the legacy he forged at his beloved Roland Garros. The Spaniard will receive a memorable farewell at his favorite Major on Sunday.

There will be an unfamiliar uncertainty at the French Open when the year's second Grand Slam tournament begins in Paris on Sunday.

The current record for a Nadal racket is $139,700 when Sotheby's sold one in February linked to 12 matches in 2022, including his improbable Australian Open final comeback against Daniil Medvedev. When Nadal captured his second title in Melbourne, he became the second man in history to circumnavigate the double career Grand Slam.

Iga Swiatek claimed four of the previous five Roland Garros women's singles championships, including the past three. But her recent control too has waned amid a dip in form