Stan Wawrinka, the 41-year-old Swiss legend, just played the final Grand Slam match of his incredible career at the US Open, and trust me, it was an emotional send-off that had everyone in Flushing Meadows feeling something. This three-time major champion, who’s set to retire at the end of the season, looked close to tears as he got a absolutely rapturous reception after his straight-set defeat by Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. Talk about a moment.
The Wildcard Drama That Almost Shut Him Out
Get this, the US Open almost missed out on giving a proper goodbye to a player who won the whole thing back in 2016. Wawrinka was initially overlooked for a wildcard, can you believe that? But then, American recipient Patrick Kypson withdrew, opening a spot, and Stan got a last-minute reprieve. Here’s the kicker: he was already back home in the Swiss mountains, having flown out of New York two days earlier, when he got the call on Wednesday! He quickly rearranged his travel to get back across the Atlantic. That’s dedication right there. He later said, “One of the reasons I played until 41 was to live these moments,” and was “very grateful for this wildcard. It was very important for me to finish here, where I won a Grand Slam 10 years ago.” Honestly, the belated decision to give him that wildcard was totally justified, with thousands packing the 8,000-capacity Grandstand court to see him off.
A Heartfelt Farewell, Even in Defeat
The match itself saw Wawrinka fight hard, even holding set points in each of the first two sets,one in the first, three more in the second. But Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, just battled them off before running away with the third. Despite the loss, the atmosphere was electric. Wawrinka made heart gestures with his fingers, put his hand on his heart, soaking in the appreciation. With huge cheers already ringing in his ears, he encouraged the crowd to make even more noise before knocking balls into the stands as souvenirs. Fans arrived super early and waited in long queues, all to witness what they knew could be his Grand Slam goodbye. Even Berrettini led the applause! Wawrinka received a photo montage of his US Open triumph from chief executive Craig Tiley, a nice touch for a guy celebrated for his one-handed backhand and competitive spirit. You even saw groups of fans rocking “Stan the Man” T-shirts. That’s love.
Wawrinka’s retirement at the end of the season marks the close of an incredible career. After all that emotion, he said he was “super grateful” for the fond farewell. “It’s showed me that I did the right thing all those 20 years by always trying to fight, always showing up, always trying to do my best, and always trying to push myself to the limits,” he added. “This is what for me was the most important thing, what I get from the fans when I play.” What a way to go out, giving it his all until the very end and feeling every ounce of that fan appreciation. That’s the stuff legends are made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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