Stan Wawrinka fights back tears, chokes on words in heartbreaking Wimbledon farewell
Stan Wawrinka’s Wimbledon journey came to an emotional end on Tuesday as the three-time Grand Slam champion fought back tears and received a standing ovation after a spirited first-round defeat to Matteo Berrettini in his final appearance at the All England Club.
The 41-year-old Swiss, who announced in December that 2026 would be the final season of his career, withdrew from Wimbledon after a hard-fought 7-6 (7), 6-7 (16), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) loss to former finalist Berrettini. Wawrinka, playing in the main draw for the 19th and final time after receiving a wild card, produced flashes of tennis that made him one of the most feared stroke makers.
The pair entertained a packed No. 1 court with a match that included a marathon tie-break in the second set to 34 points. Wawrinka’s trademark one-handed backhand repeatedly drew applause, but Berrettini’s powerful serve was decisive in the closing moments.
After the two embraced at the net, Wawrinka struggled to contain his emotions as he walked off the Wimbledon grass courts for the final time.
“It’s never easy to say goodbye to something you love so much,” Wawrinka said.
“I’m grateful. I’d like to thank everyone because I had the opportunity to play here for the last time. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better farewell.”
The former world No. 3 admitted that retirement is difficult to accept, although he knows that the moment has come.
“I don’t want to retire, but I know it’s time for me to stop,” he said. “One of the reasons I lasted so long was to enjoy moments like tonight.
Wawrinka said connecting with the fans was one of the biggest reasons he continued to compete well into his 40s.
“For me, the best feeling is seeing the little kids, first of all, how they are at the tournaments and of course they support me. That will always be special,” Wawrinka said.
“One of the reasons I have lasted so long is the fans and the emotions I can get and share with them when I play matches.
“Tonight was really special again. Amazing support, amazing atmosphere, playing against Matteo, who is a great friend and a great guy. We had a good battle and I’m happy with the match tonight.”
The Swiss also thanked Wimbledon organizers for granting him a wild card to give him one last chance to compete at the championships.
“As a player, it’s always special. The history of the game and the history of tennis here is really unique,” he said.
“As much as it’s always nice to watch TV when you’re younger, when you first come here, the emotion you get just walking in is really special. More than 20 years later, I still get the same feeling when I come back here.”
Although Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam where he has never reached the semi-finals, Wawrinka said he has no regrets about his record on grass.
“I think I did the best I could, like the other Grand Slams,” he said. “Already reaching the quarter-finals was a great result for me and I’m happy with what I’ve achieved here at Wimbledon.”
Reflecting on his farewell season, Wawrinka said he was focused on competing until the very end.
“It’s been a great year so far. I’ve played some good tennis and some good matches,” he said.
“I always wanted to be as competitive as possible in all those tournaments, and I try to do that until the last tournament. I always try to push myself and try to win some matches.”
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
1 Jul 2026 06:48 IST