Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet tributes, semi-final schedule changes: What's new at 2025 French Open?
Published 23/05/2025 at 07:27 GMT+1
The 2025 French Open is just around the corner, with the action at Roland-Garros starting on Sunday, May 25, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. What's new at the Grand Slam this year and what changes have been made? Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek will be the defending singles champions while Novak Djokovic will be bidding for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
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The red clay of the French Open is a familiar sight each year - but what’s new at Roland-Garros in 2025?
The second Grand Slam of the tennis season starts on Sunday, May 25 and finishes on June 8, with all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Carlos Alcaraz will be the defending men’s champion while Iga Swiatek will be aiming to win the women’s title for a fifth time.
This year’s tournament will see tributes to an all-time great, a French legend, and also changes to some of the start times…
‘Special’ Nadal tribute
When Rafael Nadal played his last-ever match at the French Open a year ago it was still unknown whether he might return to the Grand Slam in 2025.
Now that his retirement is confirmed, Nadal is set for a 'special' tribute on the opening day of this year’s French Open.
Nadal is the greatest player in the history of the French Open, winning the title 14 times and losing just four matches at the tournament.
A ceremony to honour Nadal will take place on Court Philippe-Chatrier following the conclusion of the day matches on Sunday, May 25
There will also be an exhibition paying tribute to Nadal for the duration of the Grand Slam.
"I'm not much for tributes, but Roland-Garros is obviously the most important place in my career, without a doubt," said Nadal.
"So, if something big is to be done, it has to be there, or at least give them priority to do it there. And that's how it was planned from the beginning, and nothing more. I'm delighted that it's the way it is."
Gasquet, Pierce honoured
It’s not only Nadal who will be celebrated at this year’s French Open.
A tribute is planned for French legend Richard Gasquet as he plays his home Slam for the final time before retiring.
The former world No. 7 had his best run at the French Open in 2016 when he lost to Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.
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Richard Gasquet
Image credit: Getty Images
The French Open say "the celebration, which will look back at the Frenchman’s immense career, will hopefully take place as late as possible in what will be his 22nd and final Roland-Garros".
Gasquet has said he plans to call time on his career following the French Open.
There will also be a tribute for former French world No. 3 Mary Pierce before she is inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Pierce won the singles and doubles titles at the French Open in 2000 and that will be celebrated between the two women’s semi-finals on June 5 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Semi-final schedule changes
This year will see the second men’s semi-final pushed back to start at 6pm UK time on Friday, June 6.
The men’s semis have previously been held at 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
However, the second semi will now start 90 minutes later and run into the evening.
In addition, the start of the women's doubles final has been brought forward by half an hour to 10am on Sunday, June 8, while the women's doubles competition will start on Tuesday, May 27, the same day as the men's event.
'Tribune Concorde' fan zone
From the quarter-finals of this year’s French Open, there will be a free fan zone showing all the action on Place de la Concorde.
The fan zone will be open from Wednesday, June 4 until Monday, June 9 and will feature two big screens and capacity for 5,000 spectators.
"It was very important for us to offer Parisians, tourists and anyone interested, an opportunity to be a part of the Roland-Garros experience," explained tournament director Amelie Mauresmo.
As well as tennis on the big screens, there will also be a DJ, food and drink, and a Roland-Garros boutique.
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