Murray's travails with a new racket
Changing rackets as a tennis player is an unmooring experience.Forget all the cliches about racket as extension of arm, body, self; the fact they're straight in the firing line if something goes…
www.nytimes.comStan Wawrinka’s latest run at the French Open ended with an emotional first-round exit as he closes in on retirement. He lost to Jesper de Jong in four sets and bid the Paris crowd farewell, marking what appears to be his final appearance at Roland Garros.
Key latest updates
- Result: Wawrinka fell in the opening round (6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4) to Jesper de Jong, signaling the end of his French Open career. This match drew a warm ovation from the crowd as he exited Court Philippe-Chatrier, consistent with a veteran farewell in Paris [sources reporting the outcome and ceremony around the loss].
- Context: The 41-year-old former champion (2015) and longtime fan favorite has indicated retirement at the season’s end, making his Roland Garros appearance this year particularly sentimental for fans and the French Open community [context from coverage of his retirement plans and the match].
- Atmosphere: The day featured traditional post-match tributes and crowd moments celebrating Wawrinka’s two-decade-plus journey at Roland Garros, underscoring his status as a beloved figure in Paris tennis lore [general coverage of the post-match ceremony and ovation].
What this means
- Career arc: This French Open appearance embodies the culmination of a storied career at one of tennis’ toughest venues, reinforcing his legacy as a resilient and charismatic competitor on clay [context from retrospective pieces on his Roland Garros history].
- Next steps: With retirement announced for the end of the season, Wawrinka’s schedule beyond Paris is likely to include select events as part of a farewell tour, barring any changes to plans. Fans will be watching for potential final appearances at other tournaments before year-end.
Would you like a short timeline of Wawrinka’s French Open highlights at Roland Garros (titles, finals, notable matches) or a quick look at his lens on clay-court successes and their significance to Swiss tennis?