Stan Wawrinka, the iconic Swiss tennis player, saw his journey at the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships come to an abrupt end this Wednesday. Facing the third seed, Daniil Medvedev, Wawrinka was defeated in straight sets, with a score of 6-2, 6-3, in the round of 16. At 40 years old, the former world number 3 struggled to impose his game against a Medvedev who dominated the match from the baseline, not allowing the encounter to deviate from his trajectory.
For Wawrinka, however, the defeat itself was not the focal point. Dubai has always held special significance in his career, having been the site of a memorable title win in 2016. This year, his participation in the tournament is part of what is expected to be his final season of competition. The crowd, aware of his history, offered warm support throughout the match, acknowledging his past achievements.
Medvedev, with an efficient performance, demonstrated the physical demands of the current ATP level. The Russian absorbed Wawrinka’s power with ease and capitalized on opportunities early in both sets. Despite his age, Wawrinka remains competitive, but the margin for error at this level is extremely slim.
“I squeezed the lemon until the last drop,” declared Wawrinka emphatically when asked about possible regrets in his career. His initial dream was simple: to become a professional, reach the top 100, and compete in Grand Slams. With three Grand Slam titles to his name — Australian Open (2014), Roland Garros (2015), and US Open (2016) — the magnitude of his achievements speaks for itself.
“I truly believe in squeezing the lemon until the last drop. So, in general, I have no regrets. I think I maximized everything I could. I always strived to be the best version of myself. I am very happy with what I have achieved, happy with these three Grand Slams and all the other tournaments I have won. No, I don’t think I could have done more,” he stated.
The tennis player emphasized that any true regret would have come from a lack of effort, not from lost trophies. “When I arrived on the tour, my dream was to be a tennis player, to be a professional player, which means playing in the Grand Slams, being among the top 100 in the world, playing this year and then stopping. That was my promise. The goal, when I finish this long journey, will be to have no regrets.”
The tone of his statements was more analytical than nostalgic, an assessment from an athlete who built his success in the shadow of legends like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, but who nonetheless managed to carve out a resume worthy of the Hall of Fame.
The conversation quickly turned to the new generation of tennis players, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominating the major titles over the past two years. The perception is that the gap between them and the rest of the field has widened. Wawrinka did not hesitate to agree. “I think that, indeed, Jannik and Carlos are on another level. But there will always be opportunities in the future. There will always be opportunities for the players.”
He also discussed the physical and technical differences that separate the current leaders of the circuit from the rest of the competitors. “At the end of the day, you don’t play against the best every match… of course, it is a tough challenge when you have two players who are so far above the others in terms of tennis and physically, winning all the big titles,” he noted.
Instead of viewing this as the end of an era, Wawrinka offered advice focused on self-improvement. “For me, the most important thing is to look at yourself, see what you can improve, how you will improve, what you can do better to enhance your game, physically and technically, and not worry about who you need to beat.”
Wawrinka also reflected on how he has managed to prolong his career for so long. Unlike many players who tirelessly chase ranking points, he prioritized long-term balance. “Yes, I think the reason I have continued to play for so long is because, from a young age, I always sacrificed some tournaments throughout the year to ensure that I didn’t overload myself, mentally, physically, and in tennis as well. I have always tried to create a schedule that was best for the long-term of my career.”
He emphasized that the ATP calendar “doesn’t really stop.” Without controlled breaks, the season can become overwhelming. His solution has been to maintain a rhythm, which he described as playing the calendar “in waves.”
As he wrapped up his press conference in Dubai, Wawrinka did not sound like a player nearing the end. Instead, he appeared to be an athlete still engaged and motivated. “So far, I’m quite happy with where I am. I’m pleased with what’s happening this year because the level is good. I’m winning matches here and there. I’m enjoying it. For me, that’s the most important thing in my final season, to be competitive on court.”
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