Wawrinka ends his professional career with a final Basel ovation
Stan Wawrinka ended his professional tennis career after losing to Jiri Lehecka in Basel. The three-time Grand Slam champion bowed out in straight sets before a standing home crowd. His final tournament brought a 24-year career to a close, with a separate farewell event still scheduled for Geneva in December. The match also ended his 19th appearance at the tournament.
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Lehecka closes out the final match
Stan Wawrinka ended his professional tennis career at the Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel, Switzerland, losing 7-5, 7-6 to Czech opponent Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday. The 41-year-old Swiss had chosen the home Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) 500 tournament, as his last competitive appearance. The first-round defeat completed a career that lasted 24 years. He had announced that decision earlier in the season.[1], [2]
Lehecka broke serve in the eleventh game of the opening set and then held to love, finishing the set with an ace. Wawrinka kept the second set close and was two points from taking it when he led 5-4. The set reached a tiebreak, where Lehecka took control and won 7-2 to prevent a deciding set.[1], [2]
Basel rises for one last backhand
The 9,200 spectators on the main court at St. Jakobshalle were already standing when Wawrinka entered. They repeatedly rose to applaud during a night punctuated by his familiar one-handed backhand. A wave moved around the stands late in the second set, and supporters chanted their thanks after the match. Wawrinka acknowledged the ball children as he left the court.[1]
This was Wawrinka’s 19th Basel appearance and his 985th match on the men’s professional tour. He had already been honoured in a farewell ceremony on Monday. After Tuesday’s defeat he made a circuit of the court to thank supporters before walking down the tunnel, with the crowd again standing to see him off.[1], [2]
Three major titles and a Geneva farewell
Wawrinka won the Australian Open in 2014, beating Rafael Nadal in the final. He defeated Novak Djokovic for the French Open title in 2015 and the US Open title in 2016. The former world number three also won the Davis Cup for Switzerland and Olympic doubles gold alongside Roger Federer in Beijing in 2008. A separate farewell event is scheduled for December 19 in Geneva, with Federer and Andy Murray also on the programme.[2]
