Stan Wawrinka has officially brought the curtain down on his illustrious 24-year professional tennis career, marking his departure from the sport with a final match at the Basel Open on Tuesday. The 41-year-old Swiss star, a three-time Grand Slam champion, had previously confirmed that the ATP 500-level tournament in his home country would serve as the concluding chapter of his journey on the professional circuit.
His final competitive outing saw him face Czech player Jiri Lehecka, who secured a 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) victory to advance in the tournament. Despite the loss, the atmosphere inside the arena remained celebratory, with the partisan home crowd erupting in cheers for every point won by the veteran, especially as he showcased his signature, powerful one-handed backhands throughout the contest. Following the final point, Wawrinka completed a lap of the court to acknowledge the support of the spectators before exiting the stage for the last time.
Reflecting on the encounter, Lehecka expressed a sense of reverence for the occasion. Speaking to Sky Sports, he noted that competing in such a significant moment for the former world number three felt surreal, adding that it was a personal privilege he would never forget. Wawrinka’s farewell was further commemorated on Monday during a dedicated ceremony held in Basel, which allowed him to reflect on his long-standing contributions to the sport before entering the court for his final match.
Throughout his career, Wawrinka established himself as one of the few players capable of consistently challenging the era defined by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Known for his resilience on the biggest stages, he defeated Nadal to capture his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open. He later added to his legacy by defeating Djokovic in the finals of the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open. Beyond his major singles success, the Lausanne native also shared significant accolades with his compatriot, Roger Federer, including the Davis Cup title and a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Wawrinka had previously spoken about the unique nature of his career, noting his fortune in playing alongside the sport's greatest figures and managing to overcome them on significant occasions. Even as his professional competitive career has now concluded, fans will have one final opportunity to see the Swiss icon in action. In June, Wawrinka announced plans for a special farewell event titled “One last backhand,” scheduled for December 19 in Geneva, which is expected to feature appearances by contemporaries including Federer and Andy Murray.
While the focus in Basel remained on Wawrinka’s retirement, the tournament continued with other notable results. Second seed Arthur Fils defeated Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in straight sets to advance to the round of 16. Meanwhile, Spanish third seed Rafael Jodar secured a straightforward victory over Alejandro Tabilo. In a more closely contested battle, top seed Ben Shelton overcame fellow American Aleksandar Kovacevic in a three-set thriller. As the tournament progresses, attention is also shifting toward Novak Djokovic, who trained with Wawrinka ahead of the event and is set to begin his own campaign on Wednesday against Ugo Humbert of France.
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