Follow us on Google Discover Stan Wawrinka will retire from tennis held in the same sort of esteem as Andy Murray, but the dreaded word beginning with the letter ‘R’ isn’t in his thoughts just yet.
Wawrinka has been handed a wildcard into the ATP 250 event in Athens next month and that will be his final tournament of 2025.
With French player Gael Monfils announcing that next year will be his last on the ATP Tour, it appears the same questions are being asked about Wawrinka.
Now, 40, Wawrinka would be forgiven for doing exactly what Murray did last year and sailing off into the sunset to head for the golf course.
However, it would appear that there is still more tennis to come from the Switzerland-born player before his career draws to a close.
Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty ImagesStan Wawrinka shares what would make him retire
Given that Wawrinka has won some of the biggest titles in tennis, it seems only right that the player decides on his own accord when he puts the rackets away for one last time.
The winner of three Grand Slam titles has been the world number three previously and it would appear that there is no danger of him retiring any time soon.
He told L’Equipe: ““Ending a career is very personal. We all have different desires, you have to feel it. We’ll see if there’s a next season, we’ll already finish this one. I live in the present, I try to make the most of it.
“I know the end is very close, we all have a deadline and at some point we will have to put away our rackets. I am happy to be here in Basel, and I will take stock after Athens. But yes, I hope to play a little more next year.”
Although Wawrinka does want to play a little bit more next year, he’s under no illusions that being the world number 152 does little to get him into many tournaments and he will be relying on some help.
He’s suggested that he’d like to be qualifying for things on his own rather than receiving wildcards.
Wawrinka continued: “But the chances are obviously greater on the Challenger circuit than in an ATP tournament. I try to maintain the best level possible, so that I can go as far as possible in the tournaments.
“I am of course close to the end. I’m not stopping now, but every week it gets closer. I have no guarantee that I will come back here next year. If there are no results that bring me back up a bit, I will not come back asking for a wild card, which already gives some answers. In any case, I will not stop on a whim, that’s for sure.”
Wawrinka has to be considered one of the game’s top players of his era
Much like Murray, Wawrinka has to go down as a magical component in a truly golden era of tennis.
Okay, he only claimed three Grand Slam titles but this was when he was up against Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic throughout his entire career.
Australian Open (2014) – Beat Rafael Nadal – 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3French Open (2015) – Beat Novak Djokovic – 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4US Open (2016) – Beat Novak Djokovic – 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
With Djokovic suggesting last week he doesn’t want to retire, it would be great to not only see Wawrinka stick around but also start to show a little bit of his old form too.
It’s great that he wants to keep playing with his career proving so successful and hopefully he can enjoy some solid form at the forthcoming tournaments he’s due to play in.