Wawrinka Ends Career with Emotional Farewell at Home

Stan Wawrinka bid farewell to his 24-year professional career at home. Taking the court with the support of fans filling the stands at the Swiss Indoors Basel tournament, the 41-year-old lost 7-5, 7-6 to eighth seed Jiri Lehecka in an ATP 500 event.

Wawrinka reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3 in 2014. In total, he won 16 tournament titles and three Grand Slam trophies. In each of those championships, he beat the then world No. 1 in the final.

His first major success came in the 2014 Australian Open final, where he defeated Rafael Nadal. He then won the 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open titles, beating Novak Djokovic in both finals.

Wawrinka had announced at the start of the season that he would end his career in 2026. He is known for his one-handed backhand, considered one of the most spectacular shots in the sport.

Lehecka spoke about his feelings after the match. Reminding that he had played against a player who had won major tournaments, Lehecka said that experiencing this moment was a little strange for him. However, he said he would never forget this match.