ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 7, 2025

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

A. TABILO/S. Wawrinka

1-6, 7-5, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Hi, Stan. Commiserations. Yesterday Novak was saying people talk about his age, but you're 40 and you're out here as passionate as ever. What is it that makes you still love not just competing like that but also putting in the work on the practice court?

STAN WAWRINKA: Like we said, passion of the sport. You know that as an athlete, when you stop there is no comeback possible, especially when you get older. I want to enjoy as much as possible.

I love playing tennis. Playing tennis, it's a game that I really enjoy. Had the chance to play all the best tournaments in the world. I want to keep pushing a little bit.

I enjoy the process. I enjoy the practice. I enjoy playing those big tournaments like here, like today, those big match, and that's what keeps me going a little bit.

Q. Looking ahead a little bit, it's obviously 10 years since your French Open title, what feelings do you have coming back to the clay season and then when you will go back to Paris?

STAN WAWRINKA: I always enjoy being back on the clay season. Always been special to play French Open not only because I won there but because it's one of the best Grand Slam. It's the one I always watched when I was young.

Yeah, it's always a great feeling.

Q. What does a match like this do for you moving forward in terms of playing more tournaments?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it's those tough loss, frustrating, frustrating loss today, but level is there. Missing some really tough things to finish those matches, but yeah, I enjoy. Was a great atmosphere, great fight on the court.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. At 40 years old, how do you feel in the morning when you get up? Do you still have passion? Is it tougher or maybe the invisible preparation helps you feeling all right?

STAN WAWRINKA: For the time being, everything holds up. The whole preparation we are doing tennistically and physically is allowing me to be the best I can possibly. Some days are more difficult than others, but overall, I have no problems in the morning.

Q. With experience, do you feel the same after a loss or a win? Is it easier to manage or is it different?

STAN WAWRINKA: Frustration increases with years because you know you are getting close to the end and you will have less opportunities of going further in the tournaments if you lose. So it's more frustrating.

Q. You were not far from victory today. What were the key points?

STAN WAWRINKA: As always in tennis, it was one point here, one point there. Maybe feeling a bit too relaxed at certain important moments. I should have been more aggressive now and then, and also I made mistakes at the bad moments sometimes, and that made the difference.

Q. Yesterday we talked about Safin, who is here. He was someone special. What do you think?

STAN WAWRINKA: He was a great champion, a major player. I was lucky to be able to play against him. I think it's good for tennis that he's back. He's an important character in tennis.

Q. Gasquet was saying yesterday that he would never lose his backhand. Is it the same for you? Because you have a similar backhand.

STAN WAWRINKA: I never wondered what I was going to do three years after ending my career, if I was going to continue playing tennis or not. But anyway, with years passing, you play less and less good.

Q. Are you afraid you're going to lose your backhand?

STAN WAWRINKA: In life you can lose everything.

Q. Is it frustrating for you that you're not able to play him? Is it because it might be a motivation for you being on the tour still to play against these guys that were your opponents in your time?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, I want to play the best tournaments, to play the best players. That's all. Whatever player is okay. Whether it's more frustrating not being able to play him, I wouldn't say that, no, not at all. It doesn't change anything.

The frustration of losing a match like today is always there, and I need to do what I need to do to make sure in the following matches I will be able to pull out these situations.