Stan Wawrinka Ends Tennis Career With Basel Defeat

Stan Wawrinka ended his professional tennis career on October 27 with a defeat at the Swiss Indoors in Basel. Czech opponent Jiri Lehecka won 7–5, 7–6, taking the second-set tiebreak 7–2, in the St. Jakobshalle. The tournament described the match as Wawrinka’s final appearance as a professional. The 9,200 spectators stood when Wawrinka entered the court and rose repeatedly during the evening, according to the organizers’ account. His one-handed backhand drew cheers when he sent it down the line. At 5–4 in the second set, a crowd wave moved through the stands as Wawrinka came within two points of levelling the match. Lehecka held his nerve to finish the contest in the tiebreak. Basel’s organizers said Wawrinka’s career comprised 985 ATP Tour matches. His three Grand Slam titles came in Melbourne in 2014, Paris in 2015 and New York in 2016. In their farewell account, they told him: “Thank you for 19 appearances in Basel.” The ending followed a farewell program announced by the tournament on May 18, which set a tribute for October 26 and his first-round match for the evening of October 27. After the final match, spectators chanted “Merci Stan” as Wawrinka high-fived ball children on his way off court.