A tearful Stan Wawrinka bowed out of Wimbledon for the last time to a standing ovation after he played his part in an entertaining first-round defeat to Matteo Berrettini.
Three-time grand slam champion Wawrinka announced in December that 2026 would be his last year playing and he entered the main draw of the Championships at the All England Club for a 19th and final time after receiving a wild card.
Wawrinka was given a tough draw against former finalist Berrettini but the duo produced an exciting tie on Court One, including a marathon second set tie-break which lasted for 34 points, before the Swiss went down to a 6-7 (7) 7-6 (16) 7-6 (7) 7-6 (5) defeat.
The 41-year-old rolled back the years with his trademark backhand on display, but the big serve of Berrettini proved too strong.
Berrettini and Wawrinka shared a hug at the net before the former world number three fought back tears after he walked off the grass for one final time.
“It is never easy to say goodbye to something that you love so much,” Wawrinka said.
“I am grateful. I would like to thank everybody because I had the chance to play one last time here. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better goodbye.
“I don’t want to retire but I know it is time for me to stop. One of the reasons why I kept playing for so long was to enjoy the moments like tonight.
“I have so much emotion and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to get the wild card and to have the chance to play one last time Wimbledon.
“It is such a special tournament and as a kid you always dream of playing here one day. I had the chance to play here so many times and with this kind of support, it means so much to me.”
