“The new generation is always going to be better than the last generation”: Stan Wawrinka reflects on tennis evolution after Top 100 return

Stan Wawrinka opened his campaign at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a straight-sets win over wildcard Benjamin Hassan (No. 289), marking another step in a season that has already secured his return to the Top 100. The former world No. 3, now ranked No. 99, improved to 6-7 on the year, with two of those victories coming at the Australian Open.

The 39-year-old’s presence in Dubai carries added meaning. A champion at the event a decade ago, Wawrinka has been selective with his schedule in recent seasons. With the ATP calendar increasingly demanding, he has alternated between hard courts and clay events. This year, however, he accepted a wildcard to compete once more in a tournament he describes as personally significant.

“I always liked the tournament,” Wawrinka said in press conference, recalling his previous success in the Emirates, where he won the title back in 2016, defeating Marco Baghdatis in the final. The packed calendar has often forced difficult choices, but this appearance was deliberate. He confirmed that the opportunity to compete “one last time here in Dubai” played a role in his decision to return, underlining the tournament’s place in his career trajectory.

His season has included competitive battles against higher-ranked opponents such as Hubert Hurkacz, Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime. In the second round, Wawrinka will face the winner between world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev and China’s Juncheng Shang. For a player nearing the twilight of his career, the objective remains performance-driven rather than symbolic.

Wawrinka stressed that his priority in Dubai was not nostalgia but level. He described himself as “a competitor” who continues to push his limits. The recent return to the Top 100 offers validation after years disrupted by injury and rehabilitation. Yet he framed his satisfaction in terms of standards rather than rankings.

“I’m super happy and grateful to have received the wildcard to play one last time here in Dubai. It’s been great so far. For me, the most important thing was the way I was going to play and my level,” the Swiss added. “I’m happy with where I am right now tennis-wise, because I’m a competitor and I always try to push myself. I’m happy with the results I’ve already had this year. All those tournaments were amazing, with a lot of fans. I was so happy to see them and to receive such a warm welcome. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Beyond results, Wawrinka returned repeatedly to the theme of passion. Over more than 20 years on the professional circuit, he has faced multiple generations of players, from the peak era of the “Big Four” to today’s emerging stars. He views that span as a privilege rather than a burden.

“For me, the most important thing was that they saw the passion I put on the court. I’m like the kid who was dreaming of becoming a tennis player. I achieved way more than I ever thought I could. I always worked to push myself to the limit, and I always did it with passion, being myself on the court. I always try to share a lot with the fans and with the people around me, because one of the biggest reasons why I kept playing for so long is to experience that kind of emotion on the court.”

Asked about the current landscape, Wawrinka was clear: the level is rising. He argued that each generation tends to surpass the previous one, citing changes in conditions and equipment as well as physical and tactical development. Slower courts and different balls have subtly altered playing styles, but the underlying intensity remains.

“I think the evolution of the game right now is that the level is really high, that’s for sure. The new generation is always going to be better than the last generation — we can see that. I think the conditions have changed a bit with the balls and the tournaments being a bit slower, so the style of play is a little different. But in general, I always try to improve myself, try to play my best tennis, and find solutions against the players I face.”

He pointed specifically to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as examples of the sport’s accelerating standards, while noting that Novak Djokovic remains competitive at the top.

“If you look at the level right now of Jannik and Carlos, it’s been incredibly high — a crazy high level,” the former world No. 3 said. “You still have Novak in the fight with them. As a fan of tennis in general, it’s amazing to watch that. I’ve had the chance to play Jannick many times, and the last few times were really tough. Hopefully, I can play Carlos once before I stop playing.”

For Wawrinka, Dubai represents both continuity and transition. The rankings confirm he still belongs in the top tier of the sport. The draw ahead will test that status. Wawrinka is expected to return to the court this Wednesday. For now, he has already secured a move up to No. 92 in the live rankings — and another victory would take him close to the Top 75.