FRENCH OPEN '26: A final dance at Roland Garros for retiring Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils

PARIS (AP) — Their legs don’t move as fast on the red clay. They recover more slowly. But the French public still loves them just as much.

Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils have been involved in some of the most memorable matches in recent Roland Garros history. The two veterans are back at the French Open for a final dance at the Grand Slam tournament after announcing they will retire at the end of the season.

Both players have slipped down the rankings. A three-time Grand Slam champion, the 41-year-old Wawrinka won the title in 2015 and is now ranked No. 119. Aged 39, Monfils reached the semifinals in Paris in 2008 and made it to the quarterfinals on three other occasions. He is No. 221 and has received a wild card to play in Paris.

Renowned for his spectacular style of play, fighting spirit and remarkable physical ability, Monfils is a crowd favorite at his home Grand Slam tournament, where, like Wawrinka, he debuted more than 20 years ago. “La Monf” has rarely disappointed his Paris fans, even if he's never matched the feat of Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win Roland Garros — in 1983.

Not only the fans love Monfils.

“I don’t know anyone that really doesn’t like Gael,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic said on Friday. “One of my favorite players to watch. Incredible athleticism. I’m looking forward seeing him perform his last Roland Garros here.”

Since 2005, Monfils has amassed a 40-17 record at the clay-court tournament, which starts Sunday. He faces compatriot Hugo Gaston in the first round

Three years ago, he arrived in Roland Garros coming back from heel surgery, ranked No. 394 and without a Grand Slam match win in more than a year. He battled Sebastian Baez for nearly four hours on Court Philippe Chatrier before beating the Argentine in an epic first-round match.

The script was even more dramatic last year when he recovered from two-sets-to-love down against Hugo Dellien to become the player with the most five-set match victories on the clay courts of Roland Garros (12) in the Open era.

“I was not strong enough to win a Grand Slam” Monfils told his fans during a tribute at Roland Garros this week. “But I perhaps won more. I won a career that I’m proud of.”

Ukrainian player Elena Svitolina, who married Monfils in 2021, expects her husband to relish his final outing at Roland Garros.

“For him having a French crowd is something that he always dreamed when he was a little kid to play the big matches, to play together,” Svitolina said. “They carry you through the matches. I think for the past years he experienced something amazing. He always remembers that. For him will be a lot of nerves, but I think he already settled (a) little bit down with it. Just going to enjoy and give it his best shot, the last one.”

Wawrinka, nicknamed “Stan the Man,” appeals to the French crowd in many ways. His down-to-earth, no-holds-barred way of speaking immediately resonates with the Parisian public — his native tongue is French — while his immaculate one-handed backhand still captivates the game’s purists.

“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,” Wawrinka said in an interview with French Open organizers.

Wawrinka is set for his 21st appearance at Roland Garros. He faces rising French star Arthur Fils, the 17th seed, in the first round.

Wawrinka's stunning 2015 run, when he defeated Djokovic in the final after downing Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, is fondly remembered by tennis aficionados.

“Actually, I didn’t arrive that year confident, entering matches knowing I could win,” said Wawrinka, the former world No. 3 who also reached the final in 2017. “On the court, I just stayed in the moment and found my best tennis. It couldn’t have been more special, especially with that level of play against Novak.”

His fans also did not forget the pink-checkered shorts he wore that year.

“It’s just like everybody talk about that shorts,” Wawrinka said after his win. “I quite like them. Apparently I’m the only one. They will be in the museum of Roland Garros. You will see my shorts every day if you want.”

Whether the (in)famous shorts make one final appearance on court this year remains to be seen.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Stan Wawrinka, from Switzerland, returns a ball to Alex Michelsen, of the United States, during a round of 16 match at the Geneva Open tennis tournament in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

FILE - Gael Monfils of France plays a forehand return to Dane Sweeny of Australia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File)

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland serves a ball during a training session at the ATP 250 Geneva Open tournament, in Geneva, Switzerland, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Mohamed Salah will say goodbye to Liverpool on Sunday, but in what manner remains unclear after manager Arne Slot wouldn't commit to the Egypt star playing against Brentford in their Premier League season finale at Anfield.

Salah, one of the club’s greatest-ever scorers, forced the question with his criticism of Liverpool's style of play after a 4-2 loss to Aston Villa last Friday. He called for a return to the “heavy metal attacking” that struck fear in opponents.

The outburst — Salah's second public rift with Slot this season — adds extra drama as the team is also trying to secure Champions League qualification.

Slot was asked on Friday if Salah will definitely be involved against Brentford.

“I never say anything about team selection,” Slot responded. “It would be a surprise to you if I did this right now, I think.”

In March, the 33-year-old Salah announced he'd be leaving at the end of the season after reaching an agreement with the club to end his contract one year early.

Salah’s production has dipped in his ninth year at Anfield, to such an extent that he was dropped for a stretch of games — leading to the winger telling reporters in December that the club “has thrown me under the bus.”

“Heavy metal” football is a reference to the aggressive style favored by former manager Jurgen Klopp.

“That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good,” Salah wrote in a social media post. “It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it.”

With 257 goals, Salah is the third-highest scorer in Liverpool history. But he's tallied just 12 goals in 40 appearances this season.

“Mo and I have both the same interest — we want the best for this club, we want the club to be as successful as possible,” said Slot, who led the team to the Premier League title last year in his first season in charge.

The Dutchman was asked if Salah's critique could undermine what he's trying to accomplish.

“You are doing a lot of assumptions. You say that he wants to play that style and then say that it is not my style,” Slot said. “I think Mo was really happy with the style we played last season, and the fans as well, because that led to us winning the league.

“Football has changed, football has evolved,” Slot continued. “He and the team — and I was included in that — brought the league title back after five years and we would like to challenge for that again next season and continue to evolve the team.”

Slot was asked if Liverpool's style has changed from last year to this season.

“If you play football, you are not the only team on the pitch,” he said. “This league has become so strong that football has changed, but we have to find that right balance of still being able to compete but definitely also play the brand and the style of football the fans want to see and I want my team to play.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah runs during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool in Birmingham, England, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)