PARIS/WASHINGTON, May 24, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
As Stan Wawrinka readies himself to play the French Open for the 21st and final time this week, the 41-year-old Swiss star who won the 2015 Roland-Garros men’s title seems at ease on one of the biggest stages in sport.
In Wawrinka’s final season on the ATP Tour, the Lausanne native with the sweet one-fisted backhand would love nothing more than to go out in style. He will begin his last run at Stade Roland-Garros on Monday against 109th-ranked Dutch lucky loser Jesper De Jong, who replaced injured Arthur Fils in the singles draw after the 21-year-old Frenchman withdrew from the second major of the 2026 season on Saturday.
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On Friday, at the invitation of tournament director Amelie Mauresmo, Wawrinka signed the new “Wall of Champions” at Court Philippe-Chatrier, where 11 years ago he enjoyed one of the best major fortnights of his storied career.
“I feel good,” Wawrinka said during his Media Day news conference on Friday. “I’m happy to have an opportunity to play one last time here. Of course, it’s not going to be easy at the end, but so far, I’m happy. Always special to be back here at Roland-Garros.”
Wawrinka owns a 46-19 lifetime win-loss record but recent visits haven’t been so kind. In the last four years, he’s gone out in either the first or second round. After winning the 2015 French Open crown by defeating Novak Djokovic in the title match, he was a semifinalist the next year and a finalist in 2017. His Roland-Garros title came in the middle of a three-year run between 2014-16, in which he also won the Australian Open (2014) and the US Open (2016).
“The main image I will remember will be going. Up the steps and getting onto the court in 2015,” Wawrinka, a former World No. 3, said looking back on his title run in Paris. “It was probably the most important moment I lived in Roland-Garros.”
Forever our champion! ♾#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/IMslmpUED0
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2026
In addition to his three major titles, Wawrinka teamed with Roger Federer to win an Olympic gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and helped Switzerland win the 2014 Davis Cup title.
Currently ranked No. 119, Wawrinka has compiled an 8-14 win-loss in all competitions this season (including 7-11 at tour-level). Lifetime on the ATP Tour, he’s 589-387. Wawrinka captained Team Switzerland to a runner-up finish at the United Cup in Australia at the beginning of the year, then won a pair of matches at the Australian Open, defeating Laslo Djere of Serbia and Arthur Gea of France. Last week, he won his opener at Geneva over Raul Brancaccio of Italy, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5) before bowing to Alex Michelsen of the United States, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4).
“I’m playing well. I’m happy overall. The two last matches, especially in Geneva, did me well, but it’s not going to be easy,” Wawrinka said.
Last adjustments for Stan ⚙️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/YBQb182MWv
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 22, 2026
Wawrinka was asked during his news conference what he would miss the most once he puts his tennis racquet away for the last time on the ATP Tour.
“Probably the emotions you can feel when you’re playing a match, especially in such a great tournament as Roland-Garros,” he said. “When you have a lot of people, big public like here, it brings in a lot of good stress, and also stress that is difficult to manage. I know these are emotions I won’t find anywhere else.
“I’m very happy about what I did over this long tennis career, and I’m impatient to put my racquet down, as well, to be able to enjoy other things. But I still have a few months to ply on the tour.”
What are Wawrinka’s expectations for his final Roland-Garros experience?
“I’m someone who will fight till the end,” he said. “I’m always someone who will try and find solutions, and I hope to play a big match as of the first round.”
The Man is here 🗣️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/fclVKmytBU
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 22, 2026
Fils withdraws, cites ongoing hip injury
World No. 19 Arthur Fils of France, seeded 17th, withdrew from Roland-Garros on Saturday citing an ongoing hip injury.
During Thursday’s Roland-Garros draw ceremony, Fils was drawn to face wild card Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, who is appearing in his final French Open. Instead, his place will be taken lucky loser Jesper de Jong of the Netherlands.
During a news conference Saturday, Fils told reporters he would not be able to play in the year’s second major. “It’s a shame, of course,” he said. “I’m very sorry about it.
“I will not be fit 100% to play the tournament, and I will not take any risk like I did last year.
If it was the last tournament of my life, I will have played, but now that I have 10 more years, 15 more years, I cannot do every time the same mistake.” @ArthurFils… pic.twitter.com/JuAHVzYXDB
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2026
“In Rome, I felt pain around the hop, was bothering me a lot. Then, after, I did some examinations. Everything was looking pretty fine, but still a lot of pain.
“I was not able to practice for the last two weeks. Actually, the practice today was my first-ever points since two weeks ago in Rome.
“I’m not even at 50 percent of my normal shape right now. I will not take any rise like I did last year. I don’t want to be stupid.”
Fils added: “If it was the last tournament of my life, I will have played. But now that I have 10 more years, 15 more years …”
This is the second-straight French Open that Fils has been fallen by injuries. Last year, he pulled out after a second-round win over Jaume Munar of Spain, citing a stress fracture in his back. He did not give a timetable for a return to the ATP Tour.
Around the French Open
• World No. 16 Naomi Osaka of Japan on her choice of tennis fashion: “I feel like fashion for me, I don’t talk a lot, so that way I can talk through my clothes. That means I can be as loud with colors or patterns or fabric as I want.
“I definitely would say I’m doing something here, too. But I think that’s the fun part. I feel like we lost that a little in tennis. I always tell people I grew up with [about] Serena’s and Venus’ grand reveals. I literally can look at a picture and probably tell you what year that outfit came from.
“I know there are some kids or some people that are similar to me that hopefully feel that same way about my outfits. I am a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense.”
• World No. 7 Daniil Medvedev of Russia on why it’s so difficult to beat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, whom he could meet in the semifinal round: “I think if we compare it to any other player, the difference is that Jannik can any moment decide to step up and, for example, go down the line. But not many players can do the backhand down the line and do it
every time almost as [a] winner.
“He can. He can do it for three sets, step, down the line, strong shot, and then he’s super-fast to cover the forehand side. If you try to wrong-foot him, to go on his backhand, he basically doesn’t wrong-foot, so he’s there.
“It’s just not easy against him, even the ones I lost, and it’s like a tough challenge, which I will always try to win.”
• World No. 7 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who won the WTA 1000 event in Rome last week, on her confidence as she readies for her 13th French Open appearance: “I think it’s still early to say, because I need to start the tournament well. But now I’m calmer, I would say, because at that time eight years ago, it was more of, OK, now I need to win Roland-Garros. That was kind of the goal. Now I’m more calm about it.
“Of course, I feel like I’m in good form, but for me it’s all about trying to enjoy this journey and not put too much pressure on myself and not just think too much about what can happen. It’s just all about preparation, mental preparation and physical preparation.
“Now, I’ve always been saying physicality and really [being] mentally fresh are the goals, because when I’m ready to fight, when I’m ready to be physically strong on the court, I can play good tennis.”
Sunday’s Roland-Garros order of play
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By the numbers
En route to winning his first ATP Tour title on clay at Geneva Saturday, American Learner Tien will climb to a career-high No. 18 in the PIF ATP Rankings when they are updated on Monday. That’s 49 spots higher than he was when he entered Roland-Garros a year ago.
Tien is seeded 18th and will face Cristian Garin of Chile in the first round of the French Open.
“Quotable …”
“My bucket list is full. I think Roland-Garros gave me [everything] that I ever dream, wish, work for. I’m just very grateful and very blessed with where I am.”
– Gaël Monfils of France, during his Media Day news conference on Saturday.
The man, the myth, the legend, Gael Monfils 🧡#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/jHwOT17u0q
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 21, 2026
