Stan Wawrinka’s farewell season enters its final chapter after Lyon elimination

Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 21:30

Stan Wawrinka has just one tournament left in his professional career after being eliminated from the Lyon Open by top seed Flavio Cobolli. The 41-year-old Swiss fell 6-2, 6-4 to the Italian in the second round on Thursday, ending his penultimate tournament before retiring at the end of the 2026 season.

Wawrinka arrived in the second round after a dramatic victory over Martin Landaluce, beating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-7(2), 7-6(5) in a match lasting two hours and 46 minutes. The 41-year-old saved his farewell campaign by converting his fifth match point in the deciding tiebreak, claiming his first ATP Tour win since May and offering himself another opportunity to compete before retirement.

However, facing Cobolli presented a different challenge. The Italian, ranked No. 6 in the world and the tournament's top seed, took control after a competitive opening and prevented Wawrinka from building on his first-round performance.

The defeat brings Wawrinka's Lyon campaign to an end and leaves the Swiss with one final competitive appearance on the ATP Tour: the Swiss Indoors in Basel next week. He will then have the opportunity to celebrate his career once more at a special exhibition in Geneva in December.

Cobolli ends Wawrinka's run in Lyon

The match began with both players competing closely, but Cobolli soon established control. After the score reached 2-2, the Italian won five consecutive games, breaking Wawrinka twice to take the opening set 6-2.

Wawrinka struggled to find his rhythm on serve and made limited progress when returning. He won only around half of his service points in the opening set and just 23% of his return points, allowing Cobolli to dictate the exchanges and move within one set of victory after approximately 26 minutes.

Stan Wawrinka during practice at US Open 2026.

The Swiss was more competitive in the second set, holding his serve more consistently and staying within reach of his opponent. However, an early break gave Cobolli the advantage, and the Italian maintained it without allowing Wawrinka to create a meaningful opportunity to get back on serve.

Cobolli eventually closed out the 6-2, 6-4 victory to reach the quarter-finals, where he will face either Kyrian Jacquet or Brandon Nakashima.

The result also continued the Italian's winning record against Wawrinka. Cobolli had won their previous two encounters, at the 2024 Shanghai Masters and the 2026 United Cup, and has now extended that record to three victories.

For the 23-year-old, the win also carried implications beyond Lyon. Cobolli is pursuing qualification for the ATP Finals in Turin, where he currently occupies fifth place in the race. A strong finish to the season could secure him a debut appearance at the year-end event.

Basel will be Wawrinka's final tournament

While Cobolli continues his push towards Turin, Wawrinka's focus is now on bringing his professional career to a close. The three-time Grand Slam champion announced that 2026 would be his final season, and Basel will provide his last opportunity to compete on the ATP Tour in front of his home fans.

The Swiss will arrive at the ATP 500 event having experienced several farewell moments throughout the season, including his final appearances in Geneva and Gstaad. His victory over Landaluce in Lyon offered another reminder of his ability to produce memorable performances, even as his career approaches its conclusion.

Wawrinka's achievements include three Grand Slam titles, an Olympic doubles gold medal alongside Roger Federer at the 2008 Beijing Games, and a career-high ranking of world No. 3. He also played a central role in Switzerland's Davis Cup triumph in 2014.

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After Basel, Wawrinka is scheduled to take part in One Last Backhand, a farewell exhibition at Palexpo in Geneva on December 19. The event will feature Federer, Andy Murray and Gaël Monfils, giving the Swiss another opportunity to celebrate his career alongside several of his most prominent rivals and friends.

His defeat to Cobolli means Lyon will not provide a final title run. Instead, Wawrinka's last chapter on the professional circuit will unfold at home, with Basel now the final stop before his retirement.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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