Andre Agassi, the legendary eight-time Grand Slam champion, will return to Roland Garros to present the men’s singles trophy during the 2025 French Open final. This honor comes just days after Rafael Nadal’s emotional farewell to the tournament and the sport, marking a poignant moment for the clay-court major. The presentation will take place on Sunday, where Agassi, alongside Gilles Moretton and Amelie Mauresmo, will award the Coupe des Mousquetaires to either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, the two top contenders for the title.

The appearance of Andre Agassi at this year’s tournament not only celebrates his historic legacy but also highlights the ongoing narrative of tennis royalty at Roland Garros. His presence evokes memories of his remarkable 1999 French Open victory, one of the most dramatic comebacks in Grand Slam history.

Remembering Agassi’s Historic 1999 French Open Final

On June 6, 1999, Andre Agassi accomplished an extraordinary feat by winning the French Open men’s singles final against Andrei Medvedev in an intense five-set match, ultimately overcoming a two-set deficit. After losing the first two sets 1-6 and 2-6, Agassi rallied to win 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, becoming the third man in the Open Era to claim a major singles final after trailing by two sets. This victory consummated a career Grand Slam for Agassi and was a defining moment of his sport legacy.

Reflecting on that unforgettable triumph, Agassi once stated,

“I’ve got to say it was the best moment I’ve ever had on a tennis court, as far as an accomplishment goes.”

The deep emotion was clear when, after hitting the final point, he let his racket fall and raised his arms skyward, overcome with tears. The victory was not only a professional milestone but also a personal breakthrough after two earlier runner-up finishes in 1990 and 1991.

The Lasting Bond Between Agassi and Medvedev

Nearly 26 years later, Agassi reunited with his 1999 opponent Andrei Medvedev during a recent TNT broadcast desk discussion, showcasing mutual respect and admiration. Their rivalry, spanning a few career meetings, is remembered for its intensity and shared history, highlighted by Agassi’s win at Roland Garros and Medvedev’s semifinal triumph over Agassi in New Haven in 1993.

Speaking about the connection forged on court, Agassi remarked,

“You’re so strangely on an island on a tennis court, but also so uniquely connected. Then you find yourself in the biggest moments of your life. An opportunity to do something you’ve never done. And you have this battle that’s hanging in the balance. Maybe one shot. Maybe one point. Sometimes you feel it’s a matter of luck or of destiny. But Andrei was always one of those players where I could always say to myself, ‘Well shit, at least he won’”

Medvedev shared his perspective, emphasizing the weight of the occasion:

“Same for me. I think it was the magic of the moment. We knew history was on the line. If Andre wins, he completes the Grand Slam. If I win, I would win the slam everyone thought I deserved to win… if you look a bit back in the career. Because of the mutual respect and also the special thing that happened a few months before Roland Garros in Monte Carlo, when Andre saved my career by giving me some advice, which I used going into Roland Garros.“

He further added,

“If you can say that you’re happy to lose to someone, I can say I was happy to lose to Andre. Because he’s the guy I respect. The guy who brought so much flavor and color in tennis. We all respected him. To see him completing the Slam, being on the same stage was a great honor.”

Women’s Trophy Presentation and Tournament Context

Alongside Agassi’s role for the men’s presentation, former champion Justine Henin will present the women’s singles trophy, the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen, to either Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff. Henin is a four-time French Open winner with titles in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007, and currently serves as a television analyst, as does Agassi for TNT Sports.

The women’s tournament has drawn attention to Iga Swiatek’s unexpected decline during the 2025 season. Henin recently commented on Swiatek’s struggles, attributing her poor clay-court form to dissatisfaction with her performances. This context framed Swiatek’s semifinal loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set match.

Andre Agassi’s Insights on the Men’s Title Contenders

Agassi has closely observed the 2025 men’s singles contenders, particularly focusing on the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz leads their head-to-head record 7-4 and holds a 2-1 advantage on clay courts, including his French Open semifinal win over Sinner last year.

The American tennis icon analyzed their strengths prior to the 2025 Italian Open final, saying,

“I look at it like Alcaraz’s upside on anything that is slippery is his chance to be a level or have an advantage over Sinner.”

Additionally, speaking about the differences in their playing styles and movement, Agassi explained,

“When I look at Alcaraz and Sinner as the two that have sort of pulled away from the pack, I see advantage Sinner on any surface that is firm underneath. I see Alcaraz having a slight advantage on any surface that I would call slippery. When you look at Alcaraz, he is crazy fast defensively. This is a guy that when you watch him move on a hard court, you’d put him top three in the world in movement, you’d put him, Tommy Paul, and [Alex] de Minaur. Then you watch those same three run on clay, a [more] slippery surface, and you realize the fastest guys’ movement diminishes about 5% but Alcaraz’s only diminishes 1-2%.”

Agassi also expressed surprise at Jannik Sinner’s physical recovery and movement improvement after a three-month absence, stating,

“The thing that surprises me the most about three months away was always the movement stuff. For me, it was always the return, it was always the reaction to the ball.”

With such powerful contenders, Agassi views the 2025 French Open as an open competition, full of suspense and excitement for tennis fans worldwide.

Reflecting on the Legacy and Future of Roland Garros

Andre Agassi’s return to Roland Garros to present the men’s singles trophy symbolizes a bridge between the prestigious past and the vibrant present of tennis. His 1999 victory remains one of the most inspiring comebacks in French Open history, and his current role honors the tradition and significance of this Grand Slam event.

This year’s men’s final, featuring rising stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, promises to add a new chapter to Roland Garros’ legacy. Simultaneously, the women’s competition highlights established champions like Sabalenka and Gauff striving for glory, under the watchful eyes of former champions turned commentators, including Justine Henin.

As the tournament progresses, Agassi’s involvement underscores the enduring passion and determination that define Roland Garros, leaving fans hopeful and eager to witness tennis history in the making once again.