Stan Wawrinka reveals how Roger Federer shaped his early years in moving tribute and reflects on French Open final encounter with Novak Djokovic

Stan Wawrinka said an emotional goodbye to the French Open - the Grand Slam he won in 2015 - following his first-round defeat to Jesper de Jong on Monday.

Wawrinka is a firm fan favourite at Roland-Garros, having wooed the French crowd for years with his stunning one-handed backhand, and he will be forever immortalised in the history of the tournament following his victory against Novak Djokovic in the 2015 final.

On his farewell tour before retirement, Wawrinka has soaked up adulation from crowds across the world, while also receiving well-wishes from the sport's biggest names, his various rivals across more than two decades on tour.

Swiss compatriot and Olympic gold medal-winning team-mate in 2008, Roger Federer, was among a host of names to feature in a tribute for Wawrinka on Court Simmone-Mathieu on Monday.

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And, speaking in his post-match press conference, Wawrinka delved into the influence of Federer during his early years in the sport.

"I always did everything in my career to have zero regret, even if you can always find some small regret," Wawrinka said.

"I think when I arrived on tour, and Roger was there, for me, I took that as a big opportunity, a real chance as a young player from Swiss, being able to share the court, the practice, to share knowledge, to learn from the best player.

Watch emotional video as Federer, Sinner, Nadal and Alcaraz all pay tribute to Wawrinka

Video credit: TNT Sports

"He was No. 1, he was already at the top, and then with the chance to play Davis Cup, to play Olympics, because of him I also have a gold medal at Olympics.

"So if I look, the way I see things in general, I'm someone who is normally really positive, so I always look at the positive side of everything, and, for me, it was an amazing chance and opportunity to be able to arrive on tour and to spend 20 years with Roger there."

Wawrinka would go on to play against Federer 26 times in a competitive setting - pitting two iconic one-handed backhands against one another. He won three of those meetings, the most notable of which coming in the 2015 French Open quarter-finals, en route to Wawrinka's title win.

Now 41, Wawrinka will forever hold a legacy of managing to break through and win big titles during the most difficult era of men's tennis to do so.

He disrupted the dominance of Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to win three Grand Slams between 2014-16, and his four-set win against Djokovic in the Paris final 11 years ago will forever be one of his most significant.

Wawrinka revealed he "never" watches that match back in full, but added that he enjoys watching occasional highlights as a reminder of just how imperious his game once was.

"I never watch it full, that's for sure," he said. "I watch some highlights, of course, to make myself happy about my tennis, my game.

Highlights: Wawrinka bows out with emotional exit at final Roland-Garros

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Sometimes I watch to think maybe I can do that again, but unfortunately, it's not that easy. You know, it doesn't matter which level you are, and where you are in your career, but when you are into it, you need to live in the momentum, so you need to do the best you can into the momentum."

On winning the 2015 French Open title, he added: "That time, for me, I wasn't thinking, 'oh, wow, amazing, I'm playing so well, or this is special' and all.

"I was really into focusing on trying to beat the No. 1 at the time, the best player ever to play the sport in a Grand Slam final, in French Open, Roland-Garros, something that I probably watch every single final before that.

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"So it was special moment. But in the same time, I knew, when I was playing and when I entered the court, that I had everything to beat him. I knew where was my level. I had the confidence in my brain, in my physical aspect, and my tennis game to achieve that."

Attentions for Wawrinka will now turn to grass, and whether he will receive a wildcard in order to say farewell to Wimbledon.

TNT Sports is providing live text coverage of every day at the French Open. Click here to follow along.

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