Stan
Wawrinka fulfilled his promise to a fan with a disability by training together
at the
Paris Masters.
The former
world No. 3 traveled to Paris for the last Masters 1000 of the year but
suffered a defeat in the opening round against Dominic Thiem, another Grand
Slam champion, by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Wawrinka leaves the tournament with
another first-round loss, marking his fourth in the last five tournaments.
During a
practice session, the Swiss player took the time to engage in some rallies with
a fan with a disability. The young Frenchman, Arthur Delaye, who has a
disability, shares videos of himself playing tennis and wrote to Wawrinka,
expressing his wish to share the court with the 3-times Grand Slam champion. The
Swiss tennis player even posed for some photos with the young fan
“THANK YOU CHAMPION
@stanwawrinka85. Despite your disability, always
believe in your dreams It was pure joy to share the court with
Stan Wawrinka,
tennis legend and champion of generosity! A moment that will remain engraved in
my memory !.” Arthur Delaye wrote on X.
The defeat
in Paris leaves Wawrinka with just one tournament remaining for this season,
which will be the ATP 250 Metz Open. The 38-year-old athlete currently ranks as
world No. 52, even with the Paris-Bercy tournament still in progress.
Wawrinka
will have a chance next week to fight for ending the year within the top 50,
making him the oldest player within the top 150 in the world.
The Metz
draw will be an opportunity that many of the best players will look to seize in
order to earn points in the season's closing stages. The main draw features six
players ranked within the top 15, with top favorites including Holger Rune,
Casper Ruud, and Hubert Hurkacz.