Stan Wawrinka concluded his career on Tuesday at his home tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel. Playing in front of a vocally supportive home crowd at the ATP 500 event, the 41-year-old was defeated 7-5 7-6 by eighth seed Jiri Lehecka.
A Decorated Career at the Top
During his distinguished career, Wawrinka reached a career-high ranking of No 3 in the ATP rankings in 2014 and collected 16 tour-level titles. His resume includes three major championships, with all three Grand Slam victories achieved by defeating the then-world No 1 player in the final match. He claimed his maiden major title at the 2014 Australian Open by overcoming Rafael Nadal, followed by a triumph at Roland Garros in 2015 and a US Open victory in 2016, both times defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. Beyond the trophies, the Swiss fan favourite gained worldwide renown for his legendary one-handed backhand, widely regarded as one of the most magnificent shots in tennis history. Having previously stated before the season began that he intended to finish his career in 2026, the veteran made his final appearance in Basel.
Following the victory, Lehecka advances to face Daniel Altmaier in the last 16. Reflecting on the emotional occasion, Lehecka said, “He won the biggest tournaments, so for me to be here in his moment is a little bit weird. But at the same time, it’s a pleasure and I will never forget this match.”
