Jesper de Jong Ends Stan Wawrinka's French Open Career in 4 Sets
Updated
Updated · ESPN · May 25
Jesper de Jong Ends Stan Wawrinka's French Open Career in 4 Sets
14 articles · Updated · ESPN · May 25
6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 — Jesper de Jong beat Stan Wawrinka in the first round, closing the Swiss veteran’s final Roland Garros appearance before his planned retirement at season’s end.
41-year-old Wawrinka, playing the tournament 21 years after his debut, gave an emotional on-court farewell, telling fans it was Roland Garros that made him want to become a tennis player.
33C heat baked Court Simonne-Mathieu as de Jong finished with a forehand winner, then asked the crowd to applaud Wawrinka, who answered with a Mexican wave and a standing ovation.
2015 champion Wawrinka still has Wimbledon and the US Open ahead, but Monday ended a French Open run highlighted by his title-winning defeat of Novak Djokovic after beating Roger Federer.
How will history remember Wawrinka, the only man outside the 'Big Four' to win multiple majors in nearly two decades?
As its legends retire, can tennis adapt its long format to capture a new generation with shorter attention spans?
Beyond creating new stars, what must tennis do to overcome high costs and competition from sports like pickleball and padel?