Stan Wawrinka played his final Grand Slam match on Monday, after more than two decades competing on the hard courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Playing his first round match as a late Wild Card entrant, Wawrinka succumbed to fellow ATP veteran Matteo Berrettini of Italy by a scoreline of 7-6(4) 7-6(3) 6-0 for the Italian. Berrettini was the same opponent who had ended Wawrinka’s time at Wimbledon earlier this year.
After a Long Journey Stan Wawrinka Says Goodbye to New YorkStan Wawrinka’s long journey isn’t just a metaphor, after being initially denied a 2026 US Open main draw Wild Card, he had already flown back home to Switzerland, the change in circumstances forcing him to immediately fly back to the United States just days before his first round match. Never the less, Wawrinka said he was “happy” he was given a wild card and had the opportunity to “be here one last time”.
Under the circumstances, Wawrinka played a solid match, competing hard and pushing the match to two tiebreaks before finally wearing down and ending his resistance in the third set. Wawrinka’s trademark one handed backhand still showed plenty of pop from the baseline, but at 41 years old he as no longer as fleet footed as he was in his prime, when he won the US Open a decade ago.
A Full House Celebrates Stan The ManIt was the atmosphere that made the match a memorable one, there was not an empty seat in the Grandstand as Wawrinka was given a final send off at the conclusion of the contest. Wawrinka was given the honor of a retirement speech and a formal ceremony by the US Open organizers. Wawrinka was gifted a portrait by the US Open and said during his speech: “I found a way to play my best tennis here. It was always special. Tonight again, one of the reasons I kept playing until I was 41 was to live those moments like you gave us tonight. “
“I love the game so much that I really tried to push until my own limit. This year, it is my own limit. I really want to thank you all for all those years of support. It was really amazing”
The Legacy of Stan WawrinkaSep 27, 2020; Paris, France; Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) in action during his match against Andy Murray (GBR) on day one at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY SportsWawrinka’s career was about more than longevity, his late career grind on the ATP Challenger Tour, for the love of the game, was memorable in its own way, but his legacy is defined by the three Grand Slam titles he won in a tough era, the 2014 Australian Open with wins over Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the 2015 French Open with wins over his countryman Roger Federer and Djokovic, and the 2016 US Open with wins over Juan Martin Del Potro, and Djokovic.
Wawrinka also reached a second final in Paris, falling to Nadal in 2017, and had nine Grand Slam semifinals. In his prime, Wawrinka was effectively a lock to at least contend for a Grand Slam, and was a three time semifinalist at the ATP Tour Finals, along with winning the Davis Cup for Switzerland an Olympic Gold medal in doubles in 2008.
The final scorecard for Wawrinka has him at 160 Grand Slam match wins, that places him behind only the big four of Andy Murray, Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic since 2000.
The Last WordWhile Wawrinka is done with Grand Slam tennis as a player, it’s highly likely he will continue as a coach or commentator now that his career has effectively ended. Wawrinka’s wisdom and skills will be highly valued by players looking to make their own Grand Slam history in the current era.
Wawrinka will play at least one more ATP event, in his home country of Switzerland this October. The Swiss Indoors ATP Basel tournament has already confirmed Wawrinka will play a first-round match as a wild card on Monday October 26th. ATP Basel will officially be his last tournament as a player.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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