Stan Wawrinka’s time on the tennis tour is drawing perilously close to an end, currently midway through the penultimate tournament of his career.
The Swiss superstar has long insisted that his retirement would come in Basel, his home country, so the decision to feature in Lyon right before can only have been to prolong his potential time on court.
Already, he has impressed by beating young star Martin Landaluce in the very first round, but he now faces a stern test against the top-seeded Flavio Cobolli next.
Regardless of today’s result, it will not change the widespread adoration Stan Wawrinka has rightly earned over 24 years on the ATP Tour.
It is this longevity which has made him so revered, and with yesterday’s win, he actually extended his own personal record right before his retirement.
Stan Wawrinka cements his place on legendary list including Jimmy Connors
Although it has not moved him up the list at all, Wawrinka now has a slightly better record for his age at the time of his latest ATP Tour win.
However, he remains fourth on the all-time list, trailing some legendary names including Jimmy Connors.
Why do you think Stan Wawrinka was never considered to be on the same level as Andy Murray?
At 42 years and ten months, the American is unsurprisingly the oldest player to win a tour-level match. He is closely followed by Ivo Karlovic, who did so at 42 years and four months old.
Feliciano López is in third, having won the last match of his career in 2023, aged 41 years and nine months.
And now, with yesterday’s win added to his collection, Wawrinka has cemented his spot with a victory earned whilst 41 years and six months old.
Of this quartet, no player has earned more tour-level wins since turning 40, with the three-time major champion boasting 12, three more than the next best in Karlovic.
Wawrinka spoke on court immediately following his win, which was actually his first since May.
Stan Wawrinka’s retirement event to feature Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Gael Monfils
Wawrinka will get an appropriately grand send-off in Basel.
However, his official retirement date has now been set, and it actually comes over a month after that tournament concludes.
On the 19th of December, Wawrinka will be joined by some of the greatest rivals and friends of his glittering career, as part of an exhibition event to celebrate the end of his playing days.
Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Gael Monfils will all take part, and after playing the latter in a singles match, he will join up with his legendary compatriot to take Murray and Monfils on in a doubles match.
This will officially bring down the curtain on Wawrinka’s tennis career, and it’s fitting that he will be surrounded by such legendary company in front of what will surely be a packed-out Geneva crowd.
He deserves no less.
