Stan Wawrinka ended his professional tennis career on Tuesday at the age of 41 after losing 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) to the Czech Republic’s 21st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the opening round of the ATP 500 tournament in Basel.
Retirement in Basel After 24 Seasons on Tour
The veteran Swiss player, who turned professional in 2002 and dropped to No. 151 in the world rankings, walks away from the ATP circuit with 16 career singles titles. His trophy haul includes the Australian Open and the Monte Carlo Masters in 2014, Roland Garros in 2015, and the US Open in 2016.
Wawrinka’s final season featured a run to the third round of the Australian Open in January, which briefly pushed him back inside the top 100 rankings during the late winter. Since turning 40 in March 2025, the Lausanne native secured 12 victories on the main tour—a record for players at that age since the ATP circuit was established in 1990.
Challenging the Big Four in Grand Slam Eras
Alongside Andy Murray, Wawrinka stands as one of the few players who successfully broke the near-total dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic at the major tournaments. He is one of only three players to defeat Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray at Grand Slam events.
Beyond his success in majors, Wawrinka captured an Olympic gold medal in doubles alongside compatriot Roger Federer at the 2008 Beijing Games and helped Switzerland win the Davis Cup in 2014. His last ATP tour title came in Geneva in 2017.
Merci, Stan ❤️🤍Stan Wawrinka's ATP career comes to an end after falling to Lehecka 7-5 7-6 in Basel#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/78PtrkhgEm
Physical Toll and Recent Departures From the Tour
The right-hander with a signature single-handed backhand endured a series of significant injuries during the later stages of his career. Those setbacks included two operations on his left knee and two surgeries on his left foot.
Tournament organizers honored Wawrinka during a special ceremony in Basel on Monday, with former world No. 1 Martina Hingis in attendance. His retirement follows the recent departures of other former top-10 mainstays, including Japan’s Kei Nishikori and France’s Gaël Monfils.
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