What Happened to Stanislas 'Stan' Wawrinka?

Stanislas 'Stan' Wawrinka, born on March 28, 1985, in Lausanne, Switzerland, turned professional in 2002. For much of his early career, Wawrinka was considered a talented player but often overshadowed by his compatriot Roger Federer and the 'Big Three' of men's tennis. He steadily climbed the rankings, known for his powerful groundstrokes, particularly his exquisite one-handed backhand, which many consider one of the best in the game's history. His breakthrough into the elite began to solidify in the early 2010s, setting the stage for his major successes.

Wawrinka's career reached its zenith between 2014 and 2016, a period often referred to as the 'Stanimal' era. He captured his first Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open, defeating Rafael Nadal in the final, a significant upset. He followed this with a stunning victory at the 2015 French Open, where he overcame Novak Djokovic, denying him a career Grand Slam at the time. His third major came at the 2016 US Open, once again defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final. Remarkably, in all three of his Grand Slam final victories, he defeated the reigning world No. 1 player.

Beyond his Grand Slam triumphs, Wawrinka also achieved significant success in other prestigious tournaments. He won an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, partnering with Roger Federer. In 2014, he was a pivotal member of the Swiss team that won the Davis Cup for the first time in the nation's history. He also secured an ATP Masters 1000 title at the 2014 Monte-Carlo Masters, defeating Federer in an all-Swiss final. His consistent performance during his peak saw him reach a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 on January 27, 2014.

From 2017 onwards, Wawrinka's career was significantly impacted by a series of injuries. He underwent two season-ending left knee surgeries in August 2017, forcing him to miss the remainder of that season, including the US Open. This marked a turning point, as he struggled to regain his consistent top form. Further setbacks included a foot injury in 2021, requiring surgery, and a fracture sustained in November 2023, which affected his 2024 season. These injuries caused his ranking to tumble, and he often relied on wildcards to enter major tournaments.

As of 2026, Stan Wawrinka has embarked on his final year as a professional tennis player. He announced his retirement plans in December 2025, stating that 2026 would be his last year on tour. He began his farewell tour at the United Cup in January 2026, securing a comeback win in his first singles match. He then reached the third round of the 2026 Australian Open, becoming the oldest man since Ken Rosewall to do so, and received an emotional send-off from the crowd. Despite his current ranking outside the top 100 (No. 94 as of March 16, 2026), Wawrinka continues to compete with passion, aiming to enjoy his final season and potentially improve his ranking before concluding his illustrious career.