Rafael Nadal is set to take on a long-term role at the **French Open**, tournament organizers have revealed.
The 14-time Roland Garros champion retired from professional tennis in 2024 but was honored this year with a special on-court tribute attended by his biggest rivals—**Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray**.
French Open tournament director **Amélie Mauresmo** hinted that Nadal could return in an official capacity, possibly as an **ambassador**.
*"It’s now the common desire of the tournament and of Rafa to have some form of collaboration,"* Mauresmo said. *"We focused on what was happening this year with the communications campaign and homage. But we will resume our discussions so this story the tournament has had with Rafa over the past 20 years may continue in one way or another."*
Mauresmo also addressed the possibility of the French Open keeping **line judges** in 2026, unlike the other three Grand Slams, which have switched to fully automated **Hawk-Eye** calls.
*"We are *The Last of the Mohicans* to some extent with line judges,"* she said. *"We couldn’t say that the system of electronic refereeing on clay courts was very reliable, so the question remains open."*
Nadal was not present for Sunday’s epic men’s final between **Carlos Alcaraz** and **Jannik Sinner**, which Alcaraz won in a thrilling five-hour, 29-minute battle—**4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (10-2)**.
At just **22**, Alcaraz has now won **five Grand Slams**, joining **Bjorn Borg** and Nadal as the only men to achieve that feat at such a young age.
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