BASEL: Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka played the final match of his career in front of home fans on Tuesday, bidding farewell to the sport following a 7-5, 7-6(7/2) defeat by Czech Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.

Wawrinka announced last year that he would retire at the end of the 2026 season, 24 years after he turned professional.

The 41-year-old defeated Rafa Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open final to win his first major, before claiming his other two Grand Slam crowns by beating Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open.

“For me, all I wanted in my career was to give everything, to have no regrets, to always fight, to always give 100% in every match out of respect for myself, for the opponent, for the tournament, for the fans, for everybody,” Wawrinka told the ATP website.

“That was always the most important thing for more than 20 years, and that’s the only way you can leave the sport: without any regrets.”

Wawrinka won 16 ATP titles and reached a career-high world ranking of number three in 2014. He also won Olympic doubles gold with Roger Federer in 2008 and helped deliver Switzerland’s first Davis Cup title in 2014.

On court in Basel, Wawrinka’s every point won, as well as several trademark booming one-handed backhands, was greeted by wild cheers from the partisan home crowd.

But Lehecka got his nose in front with a break of serve in the 11th game and sealed the opening set with an ace.

A tight second set went to a tie-break, but it was just a step too far for Wawrinka as his 21st-ranked opponent took firm control to seal the breaker and the match.

Wawrinka, who enjoyed a farewell ceremony in Basel on Monday, did a lap of the court to thank the crowd, before disappearing down the tunnel for the last time.

However, fans will have one more chance to see the Swiss in action this year.

Wawrinka announced in June that he will throw a farewell party on Dec 19 in Geneva, with Federer and Murray also on the card for the “One last backhand” event.

Elsewhere, second seed Arthur Fils beat his fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6(7/5), 7-5 to reach the round-of-16.

Spanish third seed Rafael Jodar cruised past Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, while top seed Ben Shelton battled past his American compatriot Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-7(4/7), 7-6(7/3), 7-6(7/4).

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026