ROLAND GARROS

May 23, 2025

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Did you enjoy this wild card? Were you surprised to get it?

STAN WAWRINKA: I'm very happy. I'd like to thank the tournament and the federation for the wild card. I was very happy to get the phone call from Amelie. Was I surprised? Yes, of course, because they do not give that many wild cards to foreigners.

I'm very happy. It's very enjoyable to be part of a French Open again.

Q. You're not really a foreigner. When you're in Paris, you're at home.

STAN WAWRINKA: Yes, on the court, right here I feel at home. Yes, of course it is always very enjoyable to be back at Roland Garros. The French Open has always been exceptional for me. During the training weeks I have the same feeling. I'm very happy to take part this year.

Q. You played in Aix-en-Provence. You might face Ugo Humbert in the second round. What do you think about the French public?

STAN WAWRINKA: I have a very good relationship with the French public. I've always enjoyed tremendous support in all tournaments throughout the year, a number of tournaments in France. I get great support. The atmosphere is lovely. I feel close to them.

I've seen this over the past few years here even more so. I'm really looking forward to playing the first round here and I hope on a nice court with a lot of support.

Q. Rafael Nadal, will be the first time without him. Was it more difficult facing him here than other tournaments on the center court?

STAN WAWRINKA: I think his results speak for themselves. In my career, the most tremendous challenge was facing Rafa on clay, especially in the French Open. It's always been very difficult.

I remember the last match we played, it was the final in 2017. It was very difficult. He's so confident, so strong. He knows exactly what he has to do when he plays on clay.

It has been my biggest challenge ever.

Q. (No microphone.)

STAN WAWRINKA: It's not the only court where you have a lot of space behind the baseline. We know that Rafa is able to win on all kinds of courts, all kinds of conditions. Three sets on clay, he's proved he's won more than once and he's been able to beat pretty much everyone.

Q. 10 years ago you won here after a great final against Novak. Do you keep thinking about it? Do you still have your shorts, for example?

STAN WAWRINKA: Do I think about it? Yes, because I'm reminded of it quite often. As I've always said, I'm not one to look into the past much, especially when I'm still a player that is playing. I have to live in the present.

It's been 10 years. This year I've been reminded a lot about it. But this is not something I tend to think about every day.

When I think about the shorts, yes, I've kept some of them very cautiously.

Q. Compared to 10 years ago, I guess the main difference is in preparation, your physical conditioning. Could you explain how much longer and how much more effort you have to put into it to be prepared compared to 10 years ago?

STAN WAWRINKA: It has to do with my tennis, with my physical condition, with my spirits, with the way I train. This is one of the challenges for athletes. We know that there's limits. As we are pushing those limits, we are triggering small injuries that make every day a little more difficult.

If I take my age and my physical condition today, I feel really well. I would like to have better results. I think I'm doing what is necessary. Everything is a bit longer. You have to adjust. You have to train more for results that are not as good as before. You need to rest more to be able to train more.

This is life as it is. If I'm still able to play, as I'm 40 now, this is not so common. So I know where I'm standing, I know how challenging it can prove to be. I think it's a good challenge to try and still have good performances at my age.

Q. Outside of tennis, you're known as a Lausanne hockey club fan. Now Switzerland is in the semifinal of the World Cup. Do you think that Switzerland will be able to win the tournament?

STAN WAWRINKA: You're a journalist so you're in a better position to answer this. I always follow what happens in sports. I've been keeping an eye on it. Hockey and those competitions this time of year is always quite special because we've just finished the playoffs in Switzerland. I'm keeping an eye on it, yes, definitely.

Q. You were asked a lot of questions about Rafael Nadal. I would like to ask you about Richard Gasquet, who is playing his last French Open, who is slightly younger than you. What would you like to tell Richard?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, I was lucky enough to hit with him yesterday. He's a good friend of mine. We've trained a lot together. He's been a friend. We've had a lot of nice moments. He's a great champion. He's a great tennis player.

If I were to say anything, it would be congratulations on your career, congratulations on your results. Tennis fans have been very lucky to witness his game. It's been very beautiful because he's able to do pretty much anything on any kind of surface.

It's been a challenge playing against him more than once. It's gone both ways. We both have wins or losses that were landmarks for us. When I beat him in 2013, here in Roland Garros, it was really important. Then he beat me in Wimbledon in 2013. Those are important matches.

Q. We talk about former players, older players. There's been a switch from one generation to the next. A short period of time between the retirements of Roger, the retirement of Nadal, and the dropping levels of Novak, and how Sinner and Alcaraz are at the top now. A few months ago everyone thought that Novak would have a few years to go. What do you think it is about?

STAN WAWRINKA: I'd say it has taken some time actually because several generations have played together with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. We're not talking about the next generation, we're talking about three or four generations later. It has taken a long time for champions such at Sinner and Alcaraz to be around and win slams.

I think it's great that we have those champions, those players. Tennis will keep going no matter the generation, the champions we're talking about. No matter who spends 10 or 15 years in tennis, you will always have the next player who will make the fans dream.

In my opinion it has taken a lot of time for some to be able to take control.