Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka announced the end of a 24‑year professional career after a first‑round defeat at the ATP 500 Basel Open on Tuesday. The 41‑year‑old, who had previously declared the Basel event his final tournament, fell 7‑5, 7‑6(7/2) to Czech qualifier Jiri Lehecka.
Lehecka broke Wawrinka’s serve in the 11th game of the opening set and sealed it with an ace, while the second set saw the Swiss player pushed to a tie‑break. Lehecka ultimately won the breaker, ending Wawrinka’s run in the home‑country event.
Wawrinka’s career has spanned 24 years and includes three Grand Slam titles. He captured his first major at the 2014 Australian Open by defeating Rafael Nadal, followed by victories over Novak Djokovic at the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open.
Beyond singles, the Lausanne native has added a Davis Cup win for Switzerland and a gold medal in men’s doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to his résumé. He has also been a key member of the Swiss team that has consistently challenged the era of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
During his final match in Basel, the home crowd erupted in cheers each time Wawrinka hit a trademark booming one‑handed backhand, even as the match ended in a loss. The Swiss champion’s farewell will be remembered as a fitting conclusion to a decorated career.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
