Emotional Farewell at Roland Garros
Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka was defeated 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Jesper de Jong, a lucky loser from the Netherlands, in the first round of the French Open. Moments after the match on Court Simonne-Mathieu, Wawrinka addressed the crowd with visible emotion.
“It will be difficult to leave Roland Garros,” he said, tears welling in his eyes.
“It’s tough, it’s tough. I don’t want to say goodbye to you here.”
This match marked Wawrinka’s final appearance in Paris. The three-time Grand Slam champion, who won the French Open in 2015, announced his retirement at the end of the season, concluding a distinguished 25-year career. The 41-year-old made his decision public at the end of last year, allowing him to compete in major tournaments throughout 2026 for a final farewell.
Following his loss, Wawrinka was honored with a retirement ceremony on court. Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo and Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation, presented him with a commemorative plaque.
The ceremony featured video tributes from numerous tennis champions, including Roger Federer, Jannik Sinner, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic.
Reflecting on a Remarkable Career
Wawrinka expressed surprise at the impact he has had and the affection he has received from fans and fellow players alike.
“I’m always surprised to receive so much love, so much support from other players or from the fans or from tournaments in general.
“I have been on tour for more than 20 years. When I was young, my dream was to be a professional player, to be in the top 100, to have the opportunity to play those tournaments.
“I never expected to achieve so big in tennis, but I never put any limit in my career. I always wanted more. I always walk out to get more, push myself, push my own limits, and try to find my own way to get there. So I’m happy and proud of what I achieved.
“Today it was really tough. It’s never easy to say goodbye to something you love so much and you dedicate all your life for it. It was and it will be difficult to leave Roland Garros.”
Legacy in a Challenging Era
Wawrinka’s legacy is significant, especially given the era in which he competed. During a period dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, Wawrinka distinguished himself with an all-court attacking style and one of the most formidable single-handed backhands in tennis.
His 2015 French Open title was secured by defeating Djokovic in four sets, overpowering the world-class opponent in the final three sets.
“I never watch it full, that’s for sure,” Wawrinka said of the final. “I watch some highlights, to make myself happy about my game. Sometimes I watch to think maybe I can do that again, but unfortunately it is not that easy.”
Despite maintaining excellent physical condition and a strong start to the season—including reaching the third round of the Australian Open—Wawrinka has struggled to secure wins recently. He has lost eight of his last ten matches, with his only two victories coming against players ranked outside the top 100.
Tributes from Friends and Peers
Among those who paid tribute to Wawrinka was Gaël Monfils, a close friend of over two decades who is also retiring at the end of the season. The French Open has prominently recognized Monfils as one of France’s most celebrated homegrown talents throughout the tournament week.
Wawrinka spoke warmly of their friendship.
“Friendship. You don’t need to explain friendship, do you? It’s something that comes naturally. His personality, my personality, we get on well together.
“With years passing by, we got to know one another. When we were not on the courts, we were talking about something else. We would see one another quite frequently.
“Gaël is someone exceptional and I think he’s like me. He’s honest. We were very happy for each other when he was winning. Even when we were playing together, there was never any rivalry.
“Each of us wanted to have the best career we could have, but both of us were very happy when the other one was winning.”
