"As much as it can be difficult and it’s not easy to get there, there’s so much positive to take from this": Stan Wawrinka takes solace from incredible life given by tennis

Stan Wawrinka admitted it was “tough to leave like that” after his 6-4, 6-2 defeat to Alex de Minaur at the ABN AMRO Open, in what marked his final appearance at the Rotterdam event with retirement looming.

At the level he wanted to produce, Wawrinka conceded he fell short on the night, but the result did little to overshadow his long and emotional connection with the tournament.

“At the level I wanted to be playing, it was tough to leave like that,” he said to the media including TennisUpToDate. “But I first played here in 2005, so it was more than 20 years ago. I’ve had the opportunity to create some amazing memories, from winning, but also off the court with the fans and the people here. I’ve always had so much support. It’s been a great journey to be able to come back here one more time.”

The Swiss veteran received a warm tribute on court, and he made clear how much that support has meant to him over the years.

“Yeah, of course,” he said when asked if he felt the love from the fans. “For me, that’s also why I always try to come back as many times as possible. There’s so much support. Even on the practice courts there are always a lot of people coming to watch, and I really appreciate that. I’m really grateful for all of it.”

Despite the defeat, Wawrinka can take encouragement from his position back inside the Top 100 in the live rankings, a milestone he views as a positive sign as he continues his final chapter on tour.

“The year is not finished, the goal is to see where I am at the end of the year,” he said. “But it’s always positive to see yourself getting back in the Top 100. Hopefully I can keep playing well and stay competitive. Tonight was not my best match, but it’s OK. I’m happy with what I did yesterday and I’m looking forward to the next few months.”

Now 20 years on from his first appearance in Rotterdam, Wawrinka reflected on the physical and mental demands of life at the top of the sport, and the importance of keeping perspective.

“I’m always open. If they want to talk to me, they can always talk to me, of course the fans too,” he said, when asked about supporting other players through mental struggles. “If you want to be an athlete at the highest level, it’s going to be difficult, mentally, physically, tennis-wise as well. You need to be ready for that, but you also need to see all the good things. It’s an amazing life. We’re lucky to be playing tennis around the world in amazing facilities. At the end of the day, as much as it can be difficult and it’s not easy to get there, there’s so much positive to take from this. We are lucky.”

Even in what is expected to be his final year on tour, the competitive fire still burns.

“Yes, I’m always trying to get better,” he said. “In general, I’m trying to push myself physically and tennis-wise as well. I’m trying to improve my ranking and get more wins. I’ll see where I am in three months.”

As for what tennis will mean to him once he eventually steps away, Wawrinka admitted he is not yet ready to fully reflect.

“Of course, I remember all those years,” he said. “But as long as I’m not finished yet, I need to close the book before coming back and thinking about that chapter of my life. Of course, I will have so much positive to take from it. Like I said, I’ve been lucky to be a tennis player, to travel the world, to play here in Rotterdam, to play in different cities and tournaments. When you’re young, you dream about being a professional tennis player. When you achieve that, you need to take the positive from it.”

For Rotterdam, and for Wawrinka, the final chapter at the ABN AMRO Open may have ended in defeat, but it closed on a note of gratitude, perspective and appreciation for a career that has spanned more than two decades.