"I don't want to retire, but I know it's time to stop" - Stan Wawrinka departs Wimbledon for the last time in touching scenes

For one final time, Stan Wawrinka graced the courts of Wimbledon. His contest against former finalist Matteo Berrettini would be his last professional match on grass and at the prestigious Grand Slam tournament following a 6-7(7), 7-6(16), 7-6(7), 7-6(5) defeat.

It was a titanic battle between the pair, lasting almost four and a half hours with each set ending with a tiebreak. Four set points were created in the first one, all going the way of Wawrinka. He got a slender advantage before wating numerous chances to double it.

The second tiebreak ended 18-16 in a stunning and dramatic end to the set. In total, six set points were spurned by the Swiss with Berrettini himself needing six to get over the line. The first break in the match came in the ninth game of the third set as Berrettini set himself up with a chance to serve it out. However, Wawrinka firmly slammed the door shut in an instance with the inevitable tiebreak needed.

It was the story of the match at this point with another two set points coming and going for Wawrinka. He could have won the match by now, but instead he was behind. Berrettini got events done and dusted in a much more stress free way compared to the rest of the match. Taking a 6-3 lead in the fourth and final tiebreak, he took his third match point and sails into the second round at Wimbledon.

Despite the loss, Wawrinka soaked up the atmosphere in the iconic arena, making the most of this special occasion for the final time on one of the more notable stops on his farewell tour. "It was a great match, with an incredible atmosphere," he said in his press conference. "I am very grateful to have received an invitation and had the opportunity to play tonight. Returning to Court 1 to face Matteo, who is also a great friend, was very special.

"Wimbledon is always different. Since you are a child, you watch it on TV and dream of playing here. The first time you arrive, you feel an emotion very difficult to describe just by walking around the club. The most beautiful thing is that, more than twenty years later, I still feel exactly the same every time I come back. I think it is something unique for our sport, both for the players and the fans."

He was on the receiving end of a huge amount of support. Everyone was cheering for him and pushing him through the contest as they were served up a thriller between two very talented tennis players.

"Seeing so many kids cheering for me is probably one of the best feelings an athlete can experience," he noted. "One of the reasons I have kept playing for so many years has been precisely because of the fans and all the emotions we have shared together. Tonight was very special again. The atmosphere was amazing, and doing it in front of a great friend like Matteo made everything even more meaningful."

Along with the crowd, there was massive respect from his opponent on court. Berrettini had allowed Wawrinka to walk out second on court ahead of the match to soak in the atmosphere, and after the match also showed his true colours. "Matteo picked up my towel from the court and came back to give it to me. He said, 'Don't forget this. It's your last Wimbledon.' It was a very nice gesture on his part."

While Wawrinka is adamant that he must retire, it does not make the decision any less painful. "I don't want to retire, but I know it's time to stop. One of the reasons I kept playing for so long was to experience nights like this.

"I am very grateful to have received an invitation and to have the opportunity to play one last time at Wimbledon. It is a very special tournament. When you are a child, you always dream of being able to play here someday, and I have had the privilege of doing it for so many years. It is never easy to say goodbye to something you love so much.

"I have always felt a huge passion for this sport. I couldn't have imagined a better farewell. Thank you for all these years and for all the support. I gave everything tonight. It was a great battle. Matteo is a great friend, a great person, and he deserved the victory."

Wawrinka has completed so much in the sport. His most noticeable achievements were the three Grand Slam titles won in the midst of the domination of the Big Three, breaking the barrier and competing among the best to have ever done it. He won a Grand Slam title at every venue aside from Wimbledon, reaching a couple of quarter-finals.

He put that down to his style and grass not fitting together while admitting that there are no regrets over his time competing at SW19. "I never came to a Grand Slam thinking that I had to win that tournament," he admitted. "I always arrived with the intention of doing the best I could. At Wimbledon, I reached the quarterfinals a couple of times and I am proud of it.

Grass was always a special challenge for my tennis and also for my way of building confidence. I need to play many matches to start finding sensations, and for many years, there were barely two weeks of preparation on grass. On this surface, if you hesitate for a moment or do not fully trust your game, you pay for it immediately. I think that was one of the reasons why I never managed to go further. But, honestly, I feel I did everything I could and I am very satisfied with what I achieved here."

His career may be over on grass, but there are still a number of other events throughout the rest of 2026 that he can start looking forward to and preparing for. "It has been a good year, and yes, it will be my last year as a professional. My goal is still to compete at the highest level in every tournament, try to win matches, and end the season in the best possible way.

"Being a professional tennis player requires a lot of energy, discipline, and time. And at 41 years old, everything is much more difficult than it seems. Each training session is a challenge, and you need to work much harder than when you were young. That's why when the season ends, the first thing I want to do is close this chapter, rest a bit, enjoy my home, my family, and my friends before starting to think about what's next."

He was asked about his plans following retirement. Wawrinka kept his cards close to his chest for the time being. "I have always liked talking about tennis and sharing my experience with younger players," he stated. "If I can help in any way, I will gladly do it. It's something I've always enjoyed during my career.

"Coaching? In the short term, definitely not. In a few years, I don't know, but right now, it's not something I am considering. I have many ideas for the future, but it is still too early to talk about them. First, I need to finish my career and disconnect a bit. When the time comes, you will know."