By Islam El-Sakka
Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has retired from professional tennis following a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) loss to Czech Jiri Lehecka in the first round of the Basel Open on Tuesday. The 41-year-old Swiss star ended a 23-year career that spanned 985 matches and 16 tour-level titles.
Career defined by late breakthrough
Wawrinka turned professional in 2002 and spent years as a steady top-10 player before capturing his first major at the 2014 Australian Open at age 28. Seeded eighth, he upset Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals and defeated Rafael Nadal in the final. He later said he never expected to win a Grand Slam because he did not believe he was good enough to beat the sport's dominant trio.
Three major titles against the Big Three
At the 2015 French Open, Wawrinka beat compatriot Roger Federer in the quarter-finals and then overwhelmed Djokovic in the final with a display of power regarded as one of the era's greatest performances. His third major came at the 2016 US Open, where he saved a match point against Britain's Dan Evans in the third round and went on to defeat Djokovic again in the championship match.
Respect from rivals and unique legacy
Djokovic, a 24-time major winner, called Wawrinka a "legend" and praised his competitor's talent, strength, and precision. Wawrinka spent 267 weeks in the top 10, won one Masters 1,000 title, and acknowledged he was "really far" from forming a "Big Five" alongside Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Andy Murray. Yet his three Grand Slam trophies set him apart from most peers.
Emotional farewell in Basel
After Tuesday's defeat, Wawrinka, his family, and his team were visibly tearful. A glitzy farewell ceremony featuring speeches, music, and entertainment had been held on Monday night. Wawrinka told the ATP website that his only goal for over 20 years was to give everything, have no regrets, and always fight — the only way, he said, to leave the sport without regrets.
