Emotional Wawrinka bows out of French Open with loss to De Jong

Swiss Stan Wawrinka made his final French Open appearance in a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 loss to Dutchman Jesper de Jong on Monday before departing Roland Garros to a standing ovation and loud applause that reflected ‌the enduring affection for the 2015 champion.

The 41-year-old, who made his Grand Slam breakthrough at the Australian ​Open by winning the 2014 title before adding trophies at the French Open and the US Open in subsequent years, is set ‌to end his storied playing career later this season.

He delighted fans with a run to the Melbourne third round earlier this year, but there was to be no extended farewell in Paris after lucky loser De Jong cruised ‌through the first set and held his nerve to prevail after a mid-match blip.

“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.”

Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands celebrates after winning against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland after their first round men's singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Monday. Photos: Associated Press

Fans on Court Simonne Mathieu ​chanted Wawrinka’s name and cheered when he unleashed winners and erupted after the Swiss levelled ‌the clash at one set apiece, but De Jong was soon on the front foot again.

The world number 106, who only advanced to the main draw after Frenchman Arthur Fils’ withdrawal through injury, bagged the third set after an early arm-wrestle and delivered the knockout 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 played on the big screen, an emotional Wawrinka hailed fans for making his final appearance in Paris 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.

“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.”

A second tribute followed shortly afterwards, with Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Gael Monfils all celebrating Wawrinka’s career.

Earlier, four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek and second seed Elena Rybakina both eased into the second round with comfortable wins at a sweltering Roland Garros on Monday, as Stan Wawrinka bade an emotional farewell to the tournament.

Swiatek, playing at a Grand Slam event for the first time since linking up with Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig, made short work of seeing off Australian teenager Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-2 in just 60 minutes.

The Pole is looking to regain the trophy she won at Roland Garros in three successive years from 2022-24 before losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals 12 months ago.

Swiatek will take on Czech Sara Bejlek for a place in the last 32 on Wednesday.

The third seed is among the favourites for the title after finding some form by reaching the Italian Open semi-finals earlier this month.

“I’m really happy with the way I played. It was a solid match from the beginning to the end. I technically knew how to play,” said Swiatek.

Rybakina also wasted little time in swatting aside Slovenian Veronika Erjavec 6-2, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Like Swiatek, the Kazakh was pleased to not spend too much time on court in the 32C heat.

“It’s tough conditions but I’m happy things worked, and I’m looking forward to the next match,” she said.

Rybakina, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, plays Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva next.

Elina Svitolina survived a serious scare against Hungary’s Anna Bondar on Court Suzanne Lenglen, fighting back from 3-1 down in a deciding set to win 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10/3).

Agencies