Emotional Wawrinka Bows Out of Final French Open to Standing Ovation

Wawrinka’s final French Open ends, closing a chapter on a three-slam career 

The 41-year-old Swiss lost in four sets to De Jong in his last Roland Garros appearance, with fans and players honoring his career.

Wawrinka's final French Open ended with a loss to De Jong, followed by tributes from Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and other stars...

Stan Wawrinka played his last French Open match on Monday, falling 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Dutchman Jesper de Jong. The Swiss left Roland Garros to a standing ovation and loud applause, a show of the lasting affection fans have for the 2015 champion.

The 41-year-old won his first Grand Slam at the 2014 Australian Open, then added titles at the French Open and US Open in later years. He plans to end his career later this season.

“Thank you all. It's hard, I don't want to ‌say goodbye to you here,” Wawrinka said, before thanking tournament ⁠director Amelie Mauresmo and French Tennis Federation ‌chief Gilles Moretton.

“It's thanks to tournaments like this one that I dreamed of becoming a tennis player. I grew up with the goal of competing here one day.

“It was an amazing experience to be able to share this moment here on court. Well done to Jesper for the match.”

Fans on Court Simonne Mathieu chanted Wawrinka's name and cheered every time he hit a winner. The crowd erupted when the Swiss tied the match at one set all, but De Jong quickly regained control.

World No. 106 De Jong entered the main draw only after Arthur Fils withdrew with an injury. He edged through an early contest in the third set to take it, then delivered the decisive blow in a tight fourth set.

“It's not about me today,” the 25-year-old De Jong said in a brief on-court interview.

“A funny story about Stan, he played my coach when I was a ball kid. I don't want to say he's old. But it's all about Stan today, especially the way he fought.”

After a short video tribute was shown on the big screen, an emotional Wawrinka thanked the fans for making his final match in Paris feel special.

“Three hours of emotion, three hours of battle thanks to you, thanks to the support you've given me all these years,” Wawrinka added.

“I wanted to keep going, to go as far ‌as possible until I was 41 to experience emotions like today. I've been lucky enough to experience them for a very long time. You never want to ‌say goodbye when you're passionate about something,” he said.

STANding ovation 🫶#RolandGarros @stanwawrinka pic.twitter.com/MpnWfdKzHq

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2026

“I know it was the end; I gave everything for this sport, and I know it's the right choice. I would have loved to be back here, in front of you, but unfortunately, this was my last match at Roland Garros,” he added.

A second tribute followed soon after, as Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Gael Monfils came together to celebrate Wawrinka's career.