As the curtain begins to close on one of tennis’s most resilient careers, Stan Wawrinka’s final year on the court is a poignant reminder of what it means to leave everything on the field. At 40, Wawrinka finds himself in a familiar yet surreal position: battling opponents nearly half his age, like the 23-year-old Flavio Cobolli, in matches that stretch his limits to the brink. After nearly three hours of grueling play, Wawrinka came tantalizingly close to a monumental victory, only to see it slip away in a tense final-set tie-break. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite declaring 2026 as his final year, Wawrinka’s desire to play freely is often shackled by the very passion that defines him. ‘Of course, I would love to play more freely,’ he admits, ‘but I care so much that it’s not that easy.’
This passion is Wawrinka’s superpower—a force that has propelled him to achievements most players can only dream of. With three Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal in doubles, and a Davis Cup victory alongside the legendary Roger Federer, his résumé is nothing short of extraordinary. Yet, what’s truly remarkable is his unwavering motivation, even as his ranking hovers at No. 156, making him the oldest player in the men’s top 1,000. ‘I always enjoyed this journey,’ he reflects. ‘Being a professional tennis player was my dream, and I achieved far more than I ever imagined.’
And this is the part most people miss: Wawrinka’s success wasn’t just about talent; it was about perseverance in the face of doubt. For years, he was stuck in the shadow of the Big Three—Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic—with a daunting head-to-head record against them. But a turning point came in 2013, during an epic Australian Open match against Djokovic, where Wawrinka lost in five sets but gained something far greater: the belief that he belonged among the elite. ‘That match gave me the confidence to fight with the top players,’ he says. From there, he went on to win three Grand Slam titles, each against the reigning ATP No. 1, a feat that cements his legacy as one of tennis’s most destructive shot-makers.
Yet, Wawrinka’s achievements remain undervalued, often overshadowed by his contemporaries. For years, he was seen as Federer’s compatriot rather than a force in his own right. But Wawrinka flips this narrative: ‘I only got positive things by arriving after Roger,’ he says. ‘He helped me see my weaknesses and pushed me to improve.’ Their relationship, however, wasn’t without drama. After a heated 2014 ATP Finals clash, where Mirka Federer called Wawrinka a ‘cry baby,’ tensions flared. But less than a week later, they united to win the Davis Cup, proving that their bond was stronger than any on-court rivalry.
As Wawrinka embarks on his retirement tour, starting with a wildcard at the Australian Open—the site of his first Grand Slam triumph—it’s clear this story won’t end in fairy tale fashion. A fourth Grand Slam title is unlikely, and more painful defeats await. But the fact that Wawrinka still feels every moment—the joy, the pain, the passion—is a triumph in itself. Is Wawrinka’s legacy truly undervalued, or has he simply been overshadowed by the giants of his era? Let’s discuss in the comments—what do you think?
