Rafael Nadal is poised to end his illustrious 19-year French Open career, facing significant challenges to adding to his unparalleled 14 titles.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who first triumphed at Roland Garros as a teenager in 2005, will celebrate his 38th birthday during the tournament.
Currently ranked 276th in the world, Nadal has been plagued by injuries, playing only 15 matches since January last year and missing 12 Grand Slam tournaments throughout his career. Drawn to face world number four Alexander Zverev in the first round, Nadal enters the tournament unseeded and uncertain of his physical capabilities.
"I'm going to play the tournament thinking that I can give my all, 100 percent," Nadal remarked after a recent second-round exit in Rome. His record at Roland Garros is unmatched, boasting 112 wins against just three losses, two to rival Novak Djokovic.
Nadal remains highly esteemed, evidenced by the 6,000 fans who attended his first training session at Roland Garros. Fellow Grand Slam winners Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev practiced with Nadal, with Wawrinka noting Nadal's enduring strength and Medvedev expressing relief at not facing him.
As Nadal prepares for his potential final act in Paris, Novak Djokovic also faces uncertainty. The defending champion, with 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, has not won a title this season and suffered a shock semi-final loss in Geneva. Djokovic's campaign begins against home wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Nadal and Djokovic's dominance at Roland Garros is historic, with at least one of them featuring in every final since 2009.
