Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has retired from professional tennis after a first-round defeat to Czech player Jiri Lehecka in Basel on Tuesday.
The 41-year-old Swiss star lost 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) in front of a passionate home crowd, bringing an end to a 23-year career that included 985 matches, 590 victories and 16 tour-level titles.
Wawrinka's major triumphs came at the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in two of those finals. He also won Olympic gold in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Games and played a pivotal role in Switzerland's 2014 Davis Cup victory.
Known for his powerful one-handed backhand and emotional on-court presence, Wawrinka spent 267 weeks inside the world's top 10 and captured one Masters 1000 title. He was the only man outside the 'Big Four' of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray to win multiple Grand Slam singles titles between 2006 and 2022.
"All I wanted in my career was to give everything, have no regrets, to always fight, to always give 100% in every match," Wawrinka said. Djokovic described him as a "legend" and praised his competitor spirit, talent and power.
A farewell ceremony featuring speeches and entertainment was held in Basel on Monday night, celebrating Wawrinka's career as an everyman who gatecrashed the greats.
