And just like that, Stan Wawrinka’s Grand Slam career is over. After more than 20 years, the Swiss legend walked off a major court for the final time in New York, knowing there would be no next Slam and no final comeback, only goodbye.
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“For me, it’s been more than 20 years since the first time I came here to New York… I’d like to thank the tournament for the wildcard. For me, this opportunity to finish here was really meaningful from my side,” said the 2016 US Open winner.
“It was important for me to have the opportunity to finish the 4th Grand Slam, here in New York, ten years after winning… I really want to thank you all for all those years of support,” said Wawrinka, thanking the fans for backing him through the years.
Stan Wawrinka’s final Grand Slam match ended on Monday, but New York gave him one final goodbye that will be remembered for years. The 41-year-old Swiss lost to Matteo Berrettini 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 at Grandstand. But his biggest emotion came after the game, when he admitted he would miss playing in New York.
For Stan Wawrinka, this tournament had become special through 20 years of memories and support. Some of the happiest moments of his career had happened on these courts.
Wawrinka first arrived in New York 20 years ago, experiencing the tournament’s energy for the first time. Over the years, he said the fans gave him support and helped him enjoy playing there. His greatest moment came in 2016, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final. That victory gave Wawrinka his third Grand Slam title, after wins in Australia and France.
Even now, he says New York remains one of his favorite places to play tennis.
Yet Wawrinka almost missed the chance to say goodbye in New York during his final season. He was initially not included in the main draw, and even the wildcard spot was given to Patrick Kypson.
But fortunately for Stan Wawrinka, Kypson then withdrew because of injury, and the spot was open. The Swiss accepted the wildcard and returned to New York for his final Grand Slam appearance. It meant he could finish his career where he had won exactly 10 years ago.
Waiting for him was Berrettini, who had already beaten Wawrinka at Wimbledon earlier this year. The Italian took the opening set, but Wawrinka fought back and forced a tiebreak. Wawrinka then created seven break points in the second set, including three chances to level.
Berrettini saved those, won another tiebreak, and was just a set away from making it to the 2nd round. The third set ended very quickly, with Berrettini breaking three times before completing the 6-0 finish.
But the result mattered less than what happened when Stan Wawrinka finally walked away.
The Grandstand crowd kept cheering, giving him the farewell he had wanted. Afterward, he thanked the fans and said their support helped him continue until 41. His voice broke when he admitted, “I’m gonna miss it for sure,” before thanking everyone.
For Stan Wawrinka, the night was less about losing and more about saying goodbye properly.
The Legacy of Stan Wawrinka after his final goodbye
Stan Wawrinka will leave tennis with 3 Grand Slam titles, but those numbers only tell part of his story. The Swiss never reached No.1, yet he became one of the few players who could beat the world’s best when everything was at stake.
He played 3 Grand Slam finals and won all 3, beating the reigning World No.1 each time. Rafael Nadal fell in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic lost in Paris, and Djokovic again watched Wawrinka lift the trophy in New York.
Those victories came during an era when Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray controlled most major tournaments. Wawrinka eventually became one of only 3 players to beat all 4 members at Grand Slams. He also recorded 5 Grand Slam victories over World No.1 opponents throughout his career.
That makes his 3 major titles look even more significant when considering who stood across the net.
His strongest period came between 2014 and 2016. Wawrinka won the Australian Open in 2014, Roland Garros in 2015, and the US Open in 2016. He also won 11 straight ATP finals during that stretch and reached a career-high ranking of No.3.
His only Masters 1000 title came at Monte Carlo, where he defeated Roger Federer in the final.
There was much more to his career than those 3 trophies, with 16 ATP singles titles and 589 wins. Wawrinka played 50 consecutive Grand Slam main draws before injuries interrupted that remarkable run.
He reached 160 Grand Slam match wins and made 5 straight ATP Finals appearances between 2013 and 2017. Alongside Federer, he also won Olympic doubles gold before helping Switzerland win the 2014 Davis Cup.
Now, as Wawrinka prepares to close the final chapter of his career, those moments remain impossible to forget. Fans will remember the one-handed backhand, the finger-to-the-temple celebration, and those long matches that somehow kept going.
His career never carried the weekly consistency of Federer, Nadal, or Djokovic, but his biggest victories came directly against them. When people look back at the Big Three era, Wawrinka’s name will remain among those who refused to simply watch them win.