By Salma El-Sakka
Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka played his final professional match on Tuesday at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, losing to Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. The 41-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion received an emotional ovation from the home crowd as he ended a career spanning more than two decades.
Career defined by Grand Slam peaks
Wawrinka captured his first major title at the 2014 Australian Open, defeating Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals and Rafael Nadal in the final. He added the 2015 French Open crown with a stunning four-set victory over Djokovic in the final, and completed his trio at the 2016 US Open, again beating the Serb in the championship match. He remains one of only eight men in history to win their first three Grand Slam finals.
Signature backhand and Olympic gold
Known for his powerful single-handed backhand, Wawrinka also won Olympic doubles gold alongside Roger Federer at the 2008 Beijing Games. Before his 2014 breakthrough, he had collected only five ATP 250 titles. He finished with 16 career singles titles, one Masters 1000 crown, and a career-high ranking of world No. 3.
Comparison with contemporaries
Though level with Andy Murray on three Grand Slams, Wawrinka often stood apart from the "Big Four" era that included Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. Murray amassed 46 titles, 14 Masters 1000s, two Olympic singles golds and a year-end No. 1 ranking. Wawrinka himself dismissed suggestions he belonged in that elite group, calling it "disrespectful" to Murray's broader achievements.
Late-career resilience and farewell plans
Wawrinka competed until age 41, older than Federer, Nadal and Murray at their retirements. He earned wild cards into all four Grand Slams in his final season, reaching the third round in Melbourne. A farewell exhibition titled "One Last Backhand" is scheduled for 19 December in Geneva, featuring Federer, Murray and Gael Monfils.
