Stan Wawrinka has officially ended his 23-year professional tennis career. The 41-year-old Swiss star played his final tour-level match on Tuesday. He suffered a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) defeat to Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors in Basel. The passionate home crowd delivered a glitzy farewell ceremony to honour the three-time Grand Slam champion.
Breaking The Big Three Dominance
Wawrinka retires as one of the few players to successfully challenge the golden generation. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic dominated the sport for two decades. Wawrinka used his explosive power and trademark one-handed backhand to break their blockade. He secured his first major title at the 2014 Australian Open. He defeated Djokovic in the quarter-finals before shocking Nadal in the final.
A Legacy Of Major Triumphs
Wawrinka proved his initial Grand Slam victory was not a fluke. He brushed past Federer before destroying Djokovic to win the 2015 French Open. He claimed his final major title at the 2016 US Open. He escaped match point against Dan Evans before beating Djokovic again in the final. Djokovic recently described his former rival and practice partner as a true legend of the sport.
Leaving The Court With No Regrets
The former world number three finishes his career with 590 tour-level victories and 16 titles. Wawrinka told the ATP website he achieved his primary goal. He always wanted to give 100 percent in every match. He stated this effort showed respect for himself, his opponents and the fans. Wawrinka leaves the sport knowing he gave everything without any regrets.