Stan Wawrinka is all set for his 21st and final appearance at Roland Garros this year.
Playing his final season in professional tennis before retiring, Wawrinka has received a wildcard for Roland Garros, which returns this month.
And Wawrinka will enter the Grand Slam as a former champion, having beaten Novak Djokovic in the 2015 Roland Garros final.
Already confirming his last ATP tournament, Wawrinka will retire in Basel later this year, but he has grand plans in Paris long before then.
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Stan Wawrinka shares big hope for final Roland Garros appearance
Sharing his hopes for his final run at the clay-court Grand Slam, Wawrinka told the Roland Garros website: “I know it will be special, with all the memories that I have in Paris.
“There are a few tournaments that stand out, are so special and Roland Garros is definitely one of them.
“Hopefully I can win a few matches and cherish these courts and the crowds one last time.”
Wawrinka will, of course, receive a very warm welcome from the fans when he takes to the court for his opening match.
And like the player himself, they will be desperate to see the Swiss legend triumph at least one more time, although it certainly won’t be easy for the 41-year-old.
Wawrinka is currently 6-10 for the 2026 season, with the former ATP number three now 119th in the rankings.
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Stan Wawrinka recalls ‘special’ 2015 Roland Garros title
Wawrinka is, of course, not anywhere near the levels that he was able to produce on that unforgettable run in 2015.
The Swiss icon knocked out the likes of Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before beating Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to claim the title.
Recalling that epic venture, he said: “I never felt unstoppable. Unfortunately, I faced off with those amazing legends. Of course, during the match I played my best tennis.
“Actually, I didn’t arrive that year confident, entering matches knowing I could win. On the court I just stayed in the moment and found my best tennis.
“I grew up on clay, grew up watching clay court specialists, I grew up watching Roland Garros dreaming about maybe playing one day.
“It is part of me. It couldn’t have been more special, especially with that level of play against Novak.”
Two years later, Wawrinka came agonizingly close to repeating those heroics, but he was beaten in the 2017 final by Rafael Nadal.
The experienced Swiss was, however, able to beat Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open final, and Djokovic again in the 2016 US Open final.
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