ROLAND GARROS

May 22, 2026

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. So how does it feel, Stan, knowing this is going to be your final Roland Garros?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, I feel good. I'm happy to be back here, happy to have an opportunity to play one last time here in French Open.

Of course it's not going to be easy at the end, but so far I'm happy. Arrived today, I practiced today, getting ready for the first match. Always special to be back here at Roland Garros, anyway. So I'm happy to be here.

Q. One of your signature shots, obviously the single-handed backhand, will be much missed. Do you think there will be many future Grand Slam winners with this shot?

STAN WAWRINKA: Right now it's tough to really see with Carlos and Jannik at the top of the game.

Yeah, I'm confident one-hand backhand will always be there and probably and hopefully in the future there will be a Grand Slam champion.

Q. Have you seen Lilli Tagger? She's quite unusual, especially on the WTA side.

STAN WAWRINKA: Sorry?

Q. Have you seen Lilli Tagger? She plays with one. Obviously even less common on the WTA side. Wonder if you have seen that shot and what you made of it?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it's less common. Looks like even more sometimes difficult on the WTA. Yeah, it's always special to see one-hand backhand.

Q. Obviously you have got a first match against Arthur Fils. It's a blockbuster match. I wonder in your last tournament here if it's a matchup you wish to get? Obviously it's the first round and it's difficult, but do you wish for a moment like that probably in the biggest court, or would you prefer to ease into a tournament in this edition?

STAN WAWRINKA: I answer the same as during 25 years. You don't choose your draw. You never wish for something. I never wish for something or expect something. I just wait for the draw.

When I saw his name, of course it's a big match. He's one of the most in-form player in the last few months, so it's going to be of course very, very difficult challenge for me. I'm excited. I'm excited. Playing him here at Roland Garros on the big court is going to be special.

Q. Before Paris you played in Geneva, had a couple of emotional moments there. How did you experience that?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it was great, super happy to play there. Won a match. Lost to Michelsen in good match. Was amazing. Amazing fans, amazing crowd, a lot of support, a lot of emotions. So for me was really special to have the opportunity to play there this year for the last time.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Everyone who was at the finals in 2015 remember with great pleasure about your winners, a real festival, and also your colorful shorts. I believe they are in the Roland Garros Museum. Do you intend to bring them out again this year?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, I'll ask the museum. I'm not sure. Maybe we can wash them before. But I didn't think about this. I'll think about it between now and Monday.

Q. What will you miss most from tennis?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, probably the emotions you can feel when you're playing a match, especially in such a great tournament as Roland Garros. When you have a lot of people, big public like here in Roland Garros, it brings in a lot of stress. Good stress, and also stress that is difficult to manage.

This is probably what I will miss most, because I know these are emotions I won't find anywhere else.

Q. Do you have any idea about what the organizers have planned at the end of the match that might be your last one here?

STAN WAWRINKA: No, I have absolutely no idea, and it's not a question I have asked myself a lot. I must say I'm really happy to have this opportunity of playing here again once more and preparing as best as possible, and to give my most on the court.

Q. In Geneva, I asked you about the legacy you will leave, your finger on your temple as something that you're known for. What does it mean to you to see a lot of youngsters do that?

STAN WAWRINKA: I believe the first time was in Australia in 2014. It came to me naturally. It was more a gesture of celebration to show that I had won against my own emotions, my own head, to beat the best, and I managed to win matches, big matches against big players whom even though I played well, I didn't manage to win against because of my mind, because of my emotions.

So this was what it meant at the time.

Q. You're fighting a Frenchman on the central court in Roland Garros, a young player, a shock of generation. Is this the best match you could think of to finish maybe in Roland Garros?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well done. When you said "to finish," it's a good thing you said "maybe" afterwards, because I find you have written the article already (smiling).

Q. Do you think that symbolically it's an ideal situation?

STAN WAWRINKA: No, as I said, it's a great opportunity to play a last time on the center court against a top player of the new generation. He's a top player, and he'll probably be an even greater player in the future, which is the reason why I'm still playing tennis. I still hope to play a good match.

Q. Stan, which match would you like to offer, and I'm saying "match," in fact, in plural, what matches would you like to give?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, in the final analysis, when you like to compete, all you want is to win. You want to win, and I'm someone who will fight till the end. I'm always someone who will try and find solutions, and I hope to play a big match as of the first round.

Q. I wanted to know how important it is for you to be in this draw without a wildcard. Do you think you will play better now in Roland Garros than in Geneva or in Melbourne or a year ago?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, I was very happy to get the wildcard, because it was my objective at the beginning of the year. It was my objective. I did say I wanted to qualify with my ranking, so I'm very satisfied that I didn't have to use the wildcard. Am I playing better or not as well? I'm playing well. I'm happy overall.

I hit the ball well, but it's all very well. You play a great match when you feel good mentally. You can hit the ball. And the two last matches, especially in Geneva, did me well, but as I said, it's not going to be easy.

Arthur Fils is one of the best players after the last few months. He's proved he's solid and difficult to play, but I'm happy about the challenge that is awaiting me.

Q. What is the image you remember you will take away from Roland Garros, and your favorite place here?

STAN WAWRINKA: Well, main image will be going up the steps and getting onto the court in 2015. It was probably the most important moment I lived in Roland Garros.

And my favorite place, Roland Garros has changed a lot over the years I have come here. There has been a change in cafeterias and restaurants. At the time there was a small restaurant for players up on top which I used to like.

Q. You were saying about what the tennis has meant to you. How do you envisage your future after tennis?

STAN WAWRINKA: I'm very happy about what I did over this long tennis career, and I'm impatient to put my racquet down, as well, to be able to enjoy other things, but I still have a few months to play on the tour.

If I feel well, I feel I can still do some good things despite my age and view of my physical form. When you're at the end of your career, you should leave the post-career part for afterwards.

Q. Maybe one thing about your work tool, your racquet, the surfaces of the courts have changed. So have the balls. But you never changed racquet. Do you regret that? Do you wish you had changed racquet at the time?

STAN WAWRINKA: No. I never regretted it, because I constantly tested new racquets, new strings, but I tried to reduce the weight of my racquet over the past few months to help.

If I were to stay longer, I would look into the potential change of material even more, but I don't regret anything. I'm someone who was always testing whatever new thing was coming up, and I know that the racquet I'm playing with is the one that is best for me.