Stan Wawrinka's career at Roland Garros reached its final chapter this Monday in Paris. The Swiss tennis player fell in the first round against the Dutchman Jesper de Jong by 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and 6-4, in a match marked by the emotion and recognition of the public towards one of the most remembered champions of the French tournament.

At 41 years old and with retirement scheduled for the end of the season, Wawrinka played his last participation in the Parisian Grand Slam, more than two decades after his debut in the competition. The 2015 champion left the Simonne-Mathieu court applauded after a match played in temperatures close to 33 degrees Celsius.

The closing was full of tributes. After sealing the victory with a powerful forehand, De Jong asked for applause for the Swiss, who responded visibly excited in front of the fans.

“It's hard, it's hard to say goodbye to you here,” Wawrinka said. “It was thanks to Roland Garros that I wanted to become a tennis player.”

During the match, the former world number three maintained the connection with the Parisian public. He smiled, asked for support from the court and celebrated several points by hitting his racket, while some fans displayed banners with messages of admiration for the Swiss player.

A champion who marked an era in Paris

The farewell also served to remember some of the most important moments of Wawrinka's career. In 2015 he conquered Roland Garros after beating Novak Djokovic, who arrived as a favorite, in the final. Before, he had eliminated Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, in a campaign that was recorded both for his tennis level and for the striking pink checkered shorts he wore during the tournament.

Two years later he returned to the final, although he lost to Rafael Nadal in straight sets. Throughout his career, Wawrinka achieved something reserved for few players: defeating Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Andy Murray in Grand Slam tournaments.

His three major titles came against the world number one. He won the 2014 Australian Open against Nadal, 2015 Roland Garros against Djokovic and the 2016 US Open again against the Serbian.

In the post-match ceremony, the tournament director, Amélie Mauresmo, hugged the tennis player before videos with images of different moments in his career were projected. Messages from figures such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Gaël Monfils also appeared.

De Jong also left a phrase that caused laughter on the field: "He played against my coach when I was a ball boy. I don't want to say that you're that old."

Wawrinka responded with humor: “I know I played against your coach, that doesn't make me any younger.”

The Swiss will still compete in Wimbledon and the United States Open before putting a definitive end to a career that also included Olympic gold in doubles with Federer in Beijing 2008 and winning the Davis Cup with Switzerland in 2014.

“For more than 20 years I have experienced these emotions, and you never want them to end,” Wawrinka said. “I have given everything for this sport.”