French Open 2025: Rafael Nadal is celebrated at the tournament he won a record 14 times

PARIS (AP) — Rafael Nadal stepped out into Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday to the sort of unending adulation, thunderous applause and chants of his nickname, “Rafa,” that greeted him for years as he accumulated a record 14 French Open championships, only this time he was being honored at a farewell ceremony.

Thousands of spectators gave Nadal, who retired last year, a standing ovation as he strode through the doorway that leads from the locker room to the playing surface he ruled like no one ever has in the history of tennis. Instead of that familiar headband or the tape on his fingers or the capri pants he made famous early in his career, Nadal was wearing a dark suit and dark dress shirt.

He smiled broadly and waved at the crowd, which seemed to occupy just about every seat in the 15,000-capacity venue.

This all came 20 years to the day since Nadal made his debut in Chatrier at age 18 with a second-round victory.

As a highlight video began playing on the screens Sunday — showing those lefty bullwhip forehands, those pumped fists accompanying shouts of “Vamos!” and the relentless racing to every inch of the court — Nadal bit his lower lip and appeared on the verge of tears, which did flow eventually. His voice cracked and he sniffled while delivering a speech in French, then English, and then his native Spanish.

“This is tough," he began, in French. "Good evening, everyone. I don’t know where to start after playing on this court for the past 20 years. Winning, losing — but especially being moved every time I’ve had the chance to be here.”

Mostly winning, of course: His career record at the French Open was 112-4. That's why a larger-than-life steel statue of Nadal was installed on the Roland-Garros grounds while he was still an active player.

He went 14-0 in the event's finals, always held in Chatrier, which he called “without a doubt, the most important court of my tennis career.” Nadal finished with 22 Grand Slam titles in all, including at least two at each of the sport's most prestigious events.

Nadal, who turns 39 on June 3 and played his final competitive match at the Davis Cup last November, thanked tournament organizers. His main coach, Toni, who also is his uncle. Other members of his entourage. His parents. His wife, who stood in the front row behind one of the baselines, holding their 2-year-old son. And his greatest rivals — Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray — who later all walked out together to join Nadal on the court and hug him.

“We showed the world that we can fight as hard as possible, but being good colleagues and respecting each other very well. And for me, it means a lot that you are all here,” Nadal told the players with whom he was grouped as the Big Four of men's tennis. “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.”

Fans received T-shirts matching the rust color of the clay on the court below, with “MERCI RAFA” in white, capital letters and Sunday’s date stamped on the front. Even Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard who won last year’s French Open and is considered Nadal’s heir apparent, wore a rust-colored shirt while in the stands for the ceremony.

Depending on where they were sitting, some people instead received white shirts that, when seen together, spelled out particular messages, including “14 RG” next to a representation of the La Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy awarded to the men’s champion at Roland-Garros. Another part of the upper deck showed “RAFA” between two hearts.

Toward the end of the proceedings, which closed with yet another ovation, Nadal was shown a new plaque that's been placed near the stands on the side of the court opposite the chair umpire's stand: It is a white rectangle which bears his footprint, his name, “14” and a sketch of the tournament trophy.

He certainly left a mark on everyone who ever faced him, or watched him compete, in that stadium. And now that stadium will forever carry his mark.

“Thank you, France. Thank you, Paris. You have given me emotions and moments I could never have imagined. You can never know how gratifying it is to be appreciated in the place that matters most. ... You made me feel like a Frenchman,” Nadal said. “I can no longer play in front of you anymore, but my heart and my memories will always be linked to this magical place.”

AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire contributed.

Rafa Nadal, second right, poses with, from left, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, right, during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A sign for Rafa Nadal is placed during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Rafa Nadal waves to the crowd during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025 (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Rafa Nadal gets emotional during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Rafa Nadal holds his son Rafael Junior during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Rafa Nadal, second right, poses with, from left, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, right, during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Fans pay their tribute to Rafa Nadal, during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Rafa Nadal's wife, Maria Francisca Perello, holds her son Rafael Junior, during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Rafa Nadal is overwhelmed with emotion during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025 (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Rafa Nadal blows a kiss to fans during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

People pose for a selfie in front of a statue of Rafael Nadal, at the French Tennis Open, in the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Rafa Nadal waves during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A boy holds a sign reading Vamos Rafa, ahead of a tribute to Rafa Nadal, at the French Tennis Open at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Rafa Nadal blows a kiss during a farewell ceremony at center court Philippe-Chatrier, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

FILE - Spain's Rafael Nadal bites the trophy after winning the final match against Norway's Casper Ruud in three sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

FILE - Tennis fans take images of Spain's Rafael Nadal's statue during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, May 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Howard Fendrich, File)

FILE - Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a shot against Germany's Alexander Zverev during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, May 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, insisted “the situation has come under total control” in fiery remarks that blamed Israel and the U.S. for the violence, without offering evidence.

“That’s why the demonstrations turned violent and bloody to give an excuse to the American president to intervene,” Araghchi said, in comments carried by the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera satellite news network. Al Jazeera has been allowed to report from inside the country live despite the internet being shut off.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)