By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday May 23, 2025

Paris – Stan Wawrinka has faced the greatest players that his incredible generation has ever produced. He has battled Novak Djokovic in Slam finals, and Roger Federer at Wimbledon. But one challenge stands tall, above them all, according to Wawrinka: facing Rafawel Nadal at Roland-Garros.

“I think his results speak for themselves,” the three-time Grand Slam champion said on Roland-Garros media day. “In my career, the most tremendous challenge was facing Rafa on clay, especially in the French Open. It’s always been very difficult.”

The Swiss went 1-8 against Nadal on clay, and 3-19 overall. He remembers his last match against Nadal in Paris, a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 drubbing in the 2017 final, vividly.

“I remember the last match we played, it was the final in 2017,” he said. “It was very difficult. He’s so confident, so strong. He knows exactly what he has to do when he plays on clay. It has been my biggest challenge ever.”

40-year-old Wawrinka is happy to be a part of the main draw, even if he knows his Grand Slam winning days are behind him.

“If I take my age and my physical condition today, I feel really well,” he said. “I would like to have better results. I think I’m doing what is necessary. Everything is a bit longer. You have to adjust. You have to train more for results that are not as good as before. You need to rest more to be able to train more.

“This is life as it is. If I’m still able to play, as I’m 40 now, this is not so common. So I know where I’m standing, I know how challenging it can prove to be. I think it’s a good challenge to try and still have good performances at my age.”

2015 champion Wawrinka will face Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the first round in Paris.