Stan Wawrinka's professional tennis career came to a close on Tuesday, when he lost in the first round of the Basel Open. The 41-year-old Swiss had said earlier this season that the ATP 500 event in his home country would be his final tournament, ending a decorated career spanning 24 years.
Czech player Jiri Lehecka won the match 7-5, 7-6 (7/2). The result marked the end of the road for the three-time major champion, who once climbed to world number three.
Wawrinka and Andy Murray were the only players to win multiple Grand Slam titles during an era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. "I was lucky enough to be able to play alongside them and sometimes beat them," Wawrinka told the AFP news agency in 2024.
His record against that trio produced his biggest triumphs. He defeated Nadal to claim his first Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open, then beat Djokovic in the French Open final the following season. He got past Djokovic again in the 2016 US Open title match. The Lausanne native also won the Davis Cup for Switzerland alongside compatriot Federer and took doubles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In Basel, the partisan home crowd greeted each point Wawrinka won with loud cheers, as well as several of his trademark booming one-handed backhands. Lehecka gained the upper hand by breaking serve in the 11th game and closed out the opening set with an ace.
The second set was tight and went to a tie-break, but Wawrinka could not find a way back. His opponent, ranked 21st, took firm control of the breaker and sealed the win. Wawrinka, who was honored with a farewell ceremony in Basel on Monday, walked a lap of the court to thank the fans before leaving through the tunnel for the final time.
"He won the biggest tournaments, so for me to be here in his moment is a little bit weird," Lehecka told Sky Sports. "But at the same time, it's a pleasure and I will never forget this match."
Fans will still get one more chance to see Wawrinka this year. He announced in June that he will host a farewell party on December 19 in Geneva, billed as the "One last backhand" event, with Federer and Murray also on the card.
Elsewhere in Basel, second seed Arthur Fils beat fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 to reach the round of 16. Spain's Rafael Jodar, the third seed, beat Chile's Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, while top seed Ben Shelton edged American compatriot Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4). Djokovic, who trained with Wawrinka on Sunday before the tournament, opens his campaign on Wednesday against France's Ugo Humbert.
