Wawrinka's final match ends in defeat

Stan Wawrinka, a 41-year-old Swiss tennis player, concluded his professional career with a loss in the first round of the ATP 500 tournament in Basel. He was defeated by Jiri Lehecka, the world number 21, in two sets (7-5, 7-6(2)).

Wawrinka's long career comes to an end

This match marked Wawrinka’s 985th appearance on the ATP main tour. Despite being ranked 151st and facing an opponent 130 places higher in the rankings, Wawrinka put up a strong performance, especially in the second set where he pushed Lehecka to a tie-break.

Emotional farewell to the court

Wawrinka’s final shot, a backhand that went out of bounds, ended the match at 23:02 local time. He expressed his feelings about playing his last match at the Basel court, acknowledging the emotional significance of the moment.

Celebrations and tributes follow

After the match, Wawrinka participated in several ovations with the crowd and completed a final lap of honor. He thanked his family, friends, and the Swiss public for their support over more than 20 years, expressing gratitude for the memorable moments he experienced.

Honoring a tennis legend

Wawrinka was honored with a special ceremony the previous night. Tennis legends such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Martina Navratilova sent video messages, while Swiss singer Bastian Baker performed his song "Lucky" and a portrait of Wawrinka was created live.

Wawrinka's impressive career highlights

Wawrinka began his professional career in 2002 and achieved a remarkable record, including 16 ATP singles titles, three Grand Slam championships, and a peak world ranking of number three. He also won the 2014 Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 and a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.