Overview
- Wawrinka, which played his last professional match on Tuesday, lost 7-5, 7-6(2) to Jiri Lehecka in the first round of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, officially closing a 24-year career.
- The Swiss Indoors staged a tribute presentation before the event where video messages and praise from peers including Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were shown and tournament director Roger Brennwald said Djokovic asked to attend the farewell match.
- Wawrinka leaves the tour as a three-time Grand Slam champion with 16 ATP singles titles, a career-high ranking of world No. 3, Olympic doubles gold with Federer and a role in Switzerland’s 2014 Davis Cup victory.
- Lehecka advances in the Basel draw after the victory, while organisers and players are planning further commemorations, including an exhibition in December that is expected to feature Federer, Gaël Monfils and Andy Murray.
- Fans and commentators marked Wawrinka’s legacy for his powerful one-handed backhand and big-match wins over top rivals, and his retirement closes a defining chapter in Swiss and men’s tennis history.