Veteran Wawrinka Faces Rising Star Fearnley at Roland Garros

PARIS, France – Stan Wawrinka could be making his final appearance at Roland Garros when he faces Jake Fearnley on Monday in the first round of the prestigious tournament. This match pits the 40-year-old Swiss and three-time Grand Slam champion against Fearnley, a 23-year-old Brit with an impressive climbing career.

Wawrinka, entering the match as a wild card, has an ATP ranking of 138, suffering through a challenging season with a 1-7 record. Meanwhile, Fearnley has rapidly risen to No. 55 in the world rankings, achieving nine out of eleven main-tour match victories this season alone. The young player’s recent successes include reaching the second round of the Barcelona Open and the third round in Madrid.

Despite Wawrinka only winning once at the ATP level this year, he has a storied history at Roland Garros, winning the title in 2015 and often performing better on clay, a surface he favors. However, the momentum seems to trend in Fearnley’s favor as he continues to deliver strong performances on clay.

In another first-round matchup, Francisco Cerundolo will compete against Gabriel Diallo. Cerundolo, ranked No. 18, is experiencing a remarkable season with 27 main-tour match victories already in 2025. He has seen success in past clay tournaments, reaching the semi-finals in Munich and Madrid, which adds confidence heading into this encounter.

Diallo, now up to No. 54, is also having a breakout year, highlighted by a surprising run to the quarter-finals in Madrid. Despite his previous victory over Cerundolo in hard courts, the Argentine is favored to win this time on the red clay, thanks to his extensive experience.

Both matches promise to bring excitement as the tournament progresses. With Wawrinka’s potential farewell and the rising talent of Fearnley, and Cerundolo’s consistency against Diallo’s explosive talent, Monday’s contests are set to be thrilling encounters.