Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 Roland-Garros champion, has played his final match at the French Open, losing in the first round to Jesper de Jong. According to the tournament's official website, the 41-year-old Swiss player was honoured with an on-court presentation after the four-set loss. The departure of Wawrinka, along with fellow veteran Gaël Monfils, signals a transition for the men's tour.
What happened in Wawrinka's final match?
Wawrinka lost his first-round match to Jesper de Jong of the Netherlands, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The match took place on Court Simonne-Mathieu in front of a supportive crowd, as reported by Roland-Garros. Following the match, Wawrinka received an emotional send-off that included a video tribute with messages from rivals and friends, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Bleacher Report notes that Wawrinka plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season.
Which other veterans said farewell?
France's Gaël Monfils also likely played his last match at his home Grand Slam. The 39-year-old lost a dramatic five-set match to fellow countryman Hugo Gaston, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Monfils is also expected to retire at the end of the year, according to Bleacher Report, ending a long career as a crowd favourite in Paris.
How did the seeded players perform?
Most of the top-seeded players advanced without issue on the second day of the tournament. In the men's draw, No. 5 seed Ben Shelton won in straight sets, as did No. 8 Alex de Minaur. On the women's side, No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina and No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek also moved into the second round with comfortable victories, according to Bleacher Report. One notable upset saw Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta defeat No. 12 seed Jiri Lehecka.
First-round play continues on Tuesday, with top seeds Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka scheduled to begin their campaigns.
Sources
- Roland-Garros: RG Live: Monday May 25. None credited, 2026-05-25.
- Bleacher Report: French Open 2026 Results, Day 2 Bracket Winners, Losers, Highlights and Day 3 Roland-Garros Schedule. None credited, 2026-05-25.
- Roland-Garros: RG LIVE - Thursday May 21. None credited, 2026-05-21.
Reported from public sources.