• Rafael Nadal honored at Roland Garros with a tribute ceremony marking his retirement.
• Nadal holds an unmatched record of 14 French Open titles and a 112-4 win-loss record at the event.
• Aryna Sabalenka begins her quest for a first French Open title with a dominant victory over Kamilla Rakhimova.

Rafael Nadal received a rousing reception on May 25 as he stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier for a heartfelt tribute ceremony honoring his illustrious career at the French Open. The event was marked by a crowd of fans who wore colorful shirts displaying "14 RG, Rafa," celebrating his record-breaking 14 titles at the tournament. Nadal, now 38 and retired from professional tennis since November 2024, remains a legendary figure with an unmatched 112-4 win-loss record at Roland Garros, which he has dominated since his first title there in 2005, according to lemonde and indiatimes.

The ceremony featured an emotional speech from Nadal, where he reflected on his 20 years playing at Roland Garros. "I have lived many emotions here on this court," Nadal said after watching a video montage of his career highlights, underscoring the significant bond he shares with the venue and its fans. Many of his longtime rivals, including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray, were present to pay their respects, which Nadal described as a "great message for the world" about respectful rivalry, according to lemonde and dawn.

While Nadal's ceremony took center stage, Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one in women's tennis, started her campaign for a first French Open title against Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova with an emphatic victory, winning 6-1, 6-0. Sabalenka, having never reached the final here before, is eyeing the tournament now deemed more open due to the struggles of the defending champion, Iga Swiatek, who has slipped in rankings, according to lemonde and dawn.

In addition to Sabalenka's performance, other players like China’s Zheng Qinwen and Elina Svitolina also made important strides in the tournament. Zheng beat former finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-3, and expressed confidence by bringing her Olympic gold mentality into the competition. Svitolina opened with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 win, showing promise as the tournament unfolds. As the event progresses, the interplay between the honoring of a legend and the emergence of new champions is evidently pivotal, according to indiatimes and dawn.