"I don't think I slept before the press the next morning" - Stan Wawrinka reminisces Roland Garros triumph ahead of final outing

The farewell tour for Stan Wawrinka is about to arrive at a hugely anticipated stop: Roland Garros. Granted a wildcard for the event, the 2015 champion will be hopeful of ending his time competing in the French capital on a positive note as he reminisces on the positives from a glittering past at the French Open.

The 41-year-old is coming off the back of a final voyage on home soil at the Geneva Open. He kept his cool in a third set tiebreak against Italian lucky loser Raul Brancaccio for a first ATP main draw win since the opening round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. His campaign would come to an abrupt and permanent halt in Geneva with Alex Michelsen winning two tiebreaks in a very tight match. Wawrinka missed a set point in that first set, another great opportunity not taken as he sets his sights for Paris.

Wawrinka has always held the Grand Slam tournament at a very high level. Speaking to the Roland Garros website, he spoke about his love watching the event as a young kid years ago.

"Roland Garros for me goes all the way back to when I was younger," he said. "It's May-June and the beginning of holiday. So that was, for me, the best memories, you come back from school and you watch on TV every match, many times I sat all day long, I remember those days very well."

He also recalled winning the boys' title back in 2003. The likes of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were in action, but none came close to the Swiss in a sign of things to come.

"It came as a surprise as it was the only Junior Grand Slam I played that year, I was playing more Satellites and Futures events for ATP ranking points," he stated. "My first real experience at a Grand Slam, it was amazing. It was a super tough draw, I knew I was playing well but was a surprise to win because I was comparing myself against the best of my age. I’ll never forget it."

Just two years later, he was competing with the best in the main draw of the ATP competition. It was his first ever time competing at a Grand Slam. He made a name for himself, defeating Nicolas Massu before James Blake was taken down in a mesmerising comeback which saw Wawrinka fight back from a two-set deficit.

He had conquered his dream and left an ever-lasting impression. "Then 2005 was the real moment for me. My dream was to play at Roland-Garros in the main arenas and to be able to do that was super special. Winning two big matches turned my dream into a reality. It was an amazing achievement for me, those first steps."

Wawrinka's career maybe did not take off in the fashion many once had expected, a bit of a late bloomer. However, the wait was worth it when he reached his peak, winning three Grand Slam titles between 2014-2016. Upsetting the 'Big Three' dominance, Wawrinka was one of the only players who found success in a time ruled by some of the best tennis players to grace the courts.

He defeated fellow Swiss player Roger Federer in the quarter-finals before home hero Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fell at the semi-final stage. He had the tough task of taking down world number one Novak Djokovic in the final. The Serbian had already won four Masters 1000 titles and would go on to reach the final of every Grand Slam in that year. He would lose one, and that was when Wawrinka came back from a set down at Roland Garros to win 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 for a second Grand Slam title.

"I never felt unstoppable. Unfortunately, I faced off with those amazing legends," Wawrinka said. "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."

From regularly watching it, he knew the process before the final commenced. That is where the nerves kicked in. "I also watched every final before mine. So, I remember the stairs up to the [Court Philippe-Chatrier] entrance, I was really nervous before the final," admitted the 41-year-old. "I just told myself just think you are watching the TV and think of everything you saw so many times growing up and you'll enjoy that. I started to look at the crowd and I start to enjoy that and it was really special."

The celebrations were wild, and rightfully so. "I did celebrate big," he admitted. "I believe that nothing beats winning a Slam, so you need to celebrate as if you win Slams at night too! Together we had a huge party at the hotel with friends, family.

"I don't think I slept before the press the next morning because we always do it early but I didn't care. It was deserved and it was worth it."

In the following years, Wawrinka made it to the final in 2017 once more with 14-time champion Rafael Nadal brushing him aside. His last quarter-final appearance came in 2019 where he would lose out to Federer in four sets. "2019 was also a great tournament for me," he said. "The atmosphere was extra special. When I have played there the support has been something else. I loved that year."

Wawrinka will dance the courts of Roland Garros just one more time. Similar to every tournament he competes in this year, this French Open tournament will be the last the 41-year-old takes to the court in.

It will be a 21st and final outing in the iconic competition, one he is relishing. "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," he concluded.