Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend believes he knows exactly what will happen at the 2025 French Open with Rafael Nadal set to retire.
After 23 years as a professional player, Nadal has announced he will bid farewell to tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in November.
Rafael Nadal announced ahead of the 2024 season that it could be his last, but he remained tight-lipped on his future throughout the campaign.
But on Thursday morning the former World number one took to social media to confirm that he has just one month remaining in his illustrious career.
What prediction has Jonathan Overend made about Rafael Nadal at the 2025 French Open?
Nadal’s first round defeat to Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open is now be the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s final Grand Slam appearance.
However, his last appearance on court Phillipe Chatrier came at the Paris Olympic Games alongside Carlos Alcaraz in doubles.
With the tennis icon now set to retire, commentator Jonathan Overned appeared on Sky Sports to discuss the announcement, and he thinks Nadal will be honoured by the French Open at next year’s event.
“I’m sure in an ideal world he’d have loved to have one more go at the French Open to say farewell to Roland Garros,” he said.
“But one thing’s for sure, he’ll be back handing over the trophy in 2025. He will be the guest of honour, he will have the run of the place for the rest of time.
“Malaga will be the swansong, the farewell, absolutely appropriately enough in his home nation with his home spectators and with Carlos Alcaraz probably at his side.”
How many times has Rafael Nadal won the French Open?
Nadal has 22 Grand Slam titles, and 14 of them came at the French Open.
His first major came at the clay court Grand Slam in 2005, when he defeated Mariano Puerta to win the title at just 19 years of age.
Nadal’s final Grand Slam also came at the French Open, when he convincingly defeated Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 to claim the 22nd and now final major of his career. But after stating in a video that he can no longer play without any pain, Nadal is set to stop playing.
“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially,” Nadal said. “I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.
“It is obviously a difficult decision and one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.”
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