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Wawrinka bids fond farewell to French Open
TL;DR
Stan Wawrinka played his final match at the French Open, losing to Jesper De Jong. Known for his iconic 2015 victory over Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka bids farewell to a venue he cherishes.
Key points
- Wawrinka played his final match at the French Open
- He lost to Jesper De Jong
- Wawrinka's iconic match was against Djokovic in 2015
- He will retire at the Swiss Indoors in October
- The French Open holds special significance for him
Mentioned in this story
Stan WawrinkaNovak DjokovicJesper De Jong
French Open
One match does not define a man, but the ferocious barrage Stan Wawrinka unleashed on Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros in 2015 should forever be linked to his name.
If the single-handed backhand has been Wawrinka's signature shot, then this was his signature match.
The ball-striking was brutal and the win from a set down meant Djokovic would have to wait another year to complete the career Grand Slam.
The Swiss completed his final Roland Garros on Monday, losing 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 to Jesper De Jong in front of a packed, vociferous crowd on a beautiful Parisian afternoon.
Although Wawrinka will not retire until October's Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel, this was a fond farewell to the venue he believes witnessed the best match of his life.
"It's always tough to choose, but yes, it's there, because it was Roland Garros and it was the final against Djokovic - number one at that time. I believe it was the best of my life," Wawrinka, 41, told BBC Sport at Roland Garros.
If we remember the performance, we almost certainly also remember the shorts he was wearing.
The red, white and grey plaid shorts have become iconic in tennis circles, and the surviving pairs have found good homes.
There is one pair on display in the Roland Garros museum, while others were framed by Wawrinka for team members including long-term coach Magnus Norman.
And Wawrinka carried a memento of those shorts in his final French Open outing, with a strip of the fabric sewn on to his shirt.
Image caption,
Stan Wawrinka wore a memento of his famous French Open shorts in his final Roland Garros appearance
Wawrinka will retire as a three-time Grand Slam champion, having won his first major at the 2014 Australian Open aged 28.
He had ended Djokovic's run of 14 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals by winning the deciding set of their quarter-final 9-7, and then beat a hindered Rafael Nadal in the Melbourne final.
The Spaniard had hurt his back in the warm-up - but those who thought Wawrinka had got lucky and was unlikely to repeat the trick were soon reconsidering.
After his Paris triumph, the final part of the trilogy came in New York in 2016, when Wawrinka again beat Djokovic from a set down to win the US Open.
Q&A
What was Stan Wawrinka's most memorable match at the French Open?
Stan Wawrinka's most memorable match at the French Open was his 2015 victory over Novak Djokovic.
Who did Wawrinka lose to in his final French Open match?
Wawrinka lost to Jesper De Jong in his final French Open match.
When is Stan Wawrinka's official retirement date?
Stan Wawrinka is set to officially retire at the Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel in October.
Why is the French Open significant for Wawrinka?
The French Open is significant for Wawrinka as he considers it the venue where he played the best match of his life.
