Stan Wawrinka's final French Open campaign came to a poignant close on Monday, 26 May 2025, as the 2015 Roland Garros champion fell to Dutchman Jesper de Jong in a first-round contest that lasted just over three hours at Court Simonne Mathieu in Paris. The 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat — in favour of De Jong — brought down the curtain on what is widely expected to be the 40-year-old Swiss veteran's last appearance at the clay-court Grand Slam he conquered a decade ago.

How the match unfolded

Wawrinka opened with purpose, taking the first set 6-3, but De Jong steadied to level at one set apiece before wresting control in the third. The decisive passage of play arrived in the fourth set when the Dutchman produced a crushing forehand winner to break serve and move ahead 5-4, ultimately closing out the match and booking his place in the second round.

Despite temperatures climbing above 30 degrees Celsius, the stands at Court Simonne Mathieu remained packed throughout. Wawrinka, who has confirmed he intends to retire at the end of the season, drew repeated standing ovations from a crowd that rose to applaud virtually every point he won. At one stage, the physical demands of the contest left him flat on his back on the clay, gasping for breath — a raw image that captured both the toll and the tenacity that have defined his career.

A farewell fit for a champion

Once the final point was played, the occasion shifted from sport to celebration. Tournament organisers staged a special farewell ceremony in which Wawrinka was presented with a glass case containing a section of the Roland Garros clay court. Tribute videos played across the stadium screens, drawing sustained applause from the crowd.

Messages from several of the sport's biggest names were broadcast to the arena. Roger Federer said, 'I am impressed by all that you accomplished. Enjoy your moment.' Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, offered a deeply personal tribute: 'You have been so inspirational to me and for many other players. I'm very honoured to call you a friend.' Rafael Nadal, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Gael Monfils also sent video tributes.

An emotional Wawrinka addressed the crowd after the ceremony. 'It's hard,' he told supporters. 'I don't want to say goodbye to you here.'

The legacy he leaves behind

Wawrinka's 2015 French Open title — secured with a straight-sets victory over Djokovic in the final — stands as one of the most celebrated upsets of that era. A three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 3, he built his reputation on a ferocious one-handed backhand, unyielding fighting spirit, and a rare capacity to topple the sport's dominant trio on the biggest stages.

This is the third major retirement farewell at Roland Garros in recent years, following those of Federer and Nadal at their respective swansong tournaments, underlining how the sport is navigating a generational transition. Wawrinka's send-off in Paris, however, carried its own distinct emotional weight — a champion returning to the scene of his greatest triumph, one last time.

What comes next

With the French Open chapter now closed, Wawrinka is expected to continue his farewell tour through the grass and hard-court season before formally retiring at the end of 2025. His departure will leave the tour without one of its most compelling competitors of the past two decades.