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Stan Wawrinka’s stellar career came to an end this week, as the 41-year-old bid farewell to professional tennis on home soil at the Swiss Indoors. Wawrinka peaked at No. 3 in the world, won three Grand Slam titles, and claimed an Olympic gold medal in doubles alongside Roger Federer. Like Andy Murray, he somehow managed to lift multiple Major trophies in the era of the Big Three, beating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in those finals. Murray, however, was often grouped with them as part of the Big Four. But Wawrinka never thought he could compare to the quartet, and still dispels any suggestions that they were a Big Five.
The newly retired Swiss star was still one of just a few men who faced all of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray in their prime, beating them on the grandest stages for the bigger titles. So there is arguably no one better to declare the greatest player.
Wawrinka had a 3-23 record against Federer, 3-19 against Nadal, 6-21 against Djokovic, and went 10-13 versus fellow three-time Major champ Murray. He beat all of them at Grand Slam level at least once
“At the end of the day, the strongest player in history is Novak Djokovic – by a huge margin,” the former world No. 3 told First & Red earlier this year. “What he has done over the years is unbelievable. He has broken all records and continues to compete at the highest level.”
So many of the defining moments of Wawrinka’s career have come against Djokovic. Before he had won a Major title, the one-hander had often cited his 2013 Australian Open loss to the Serb as a turning point. Wawrinka lost 12-10 in the final set, back when they were played out to an advantage of two games, with no deciding-set tiebreak.
A year later, he returned to Melbourne, beating Djokovic in the quarter-finals and Nadal in the championship match to win his first Grand Slam title. “The first Grand Slam title is something special. When you reach match point, you suddenly feel everything – everything you have done for 20 years, all the sacrifices, all the discipline,” he recalled.
Wawrinka then beat Djokovic in the 2015 French Open final – one of the matches he still earmarks as the best of his career – and the 2016 US Open final. He had an incredible 3-1 record in championship matches at Majors, his sole loss coming to Nadal at the 2017 French Open.
While the 41-year-old believes Djokovic is the GOAT, he still thinks Nadal on the Parisian clay was a different beast. “The most difficult opponent was Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, especially in the fifth set,” Wawrinka added. “His career speaks for itself. Playing him in Paris, on clay, in those conditions, was the toughest challenge in tennis for me.”
Wawrinka’s old rivals also think highly of him. As he played his final match in Basel on Tuesday night, suffering a 7-5 7-6(2) defeat to eighth seed Jiri Lehecka, the three-time Grand Slam winner was inundated with tributes.
“Stan, primarily, is a great person. Someone I truly appreciate and respect. He has had an incredible career, honestly. The kind of a competitor he is on the court, talent, strength, power, precision. He had it all,” Djokovic said.
“People tend to forget that he has won three Grand Slams, and three different Grand Slams, and played on the highest level for so many years. He should be celebrated. He definitely deserves all of his flowers.”
Federer also shared a series of Instagram stories, writing: “Congrats on an amazing career, my friend. So many incredible memories together. Thanks for carrying me to Olympic gold.”
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