Stan Wawrinka Explains Frustration as he Announces Career Crossroads After Roland Garros Opening Round Exit

A champion in 2015, a decade later Stan Wawrinka received a wildcard for the Roland Garros. Like most of his other big tournaments this year, the 40-year-old faced an opening round exit this time too. However, it’s his love for the sport that still gives him the drive to continue. 

Wawrinka lost to Jacob Fearnley 7(8) -6(6), 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Roland Garros. The Brit will now face Ugo Humbert in the next round of the tournament. Humbert earned a straight set victory over Christopher O’Connell in his opening round match. Wawrinka said, after the match:

I’m here in front of you after losing in the first round (smile). It’s evident that I’m nearing the end, but I’m not going to stop right now, that’s for sure. Every week I’m getting closer, of course, but I believe I’m still playing good tennis, moving well, and still enjoying it. All these defeats are becoming hard to digest, but I want to find the balance between the sacrifice and everything one does to be at this level. Every now and then, you need to win matches, but at the moment I’m not getting many victories, or not enough. We’ll see what happens; I’ve just finished this Roland Garros, we’ll see what unfolds in the coming weeks.

While the Swiss admitted in a press interview, that even though these defeats are hard to digest, he is not looking to retire right now. Most of his contemporaries have hung up their rackets, although Novak Djokovic, at 38, is still on tour. The Serbian recently clinched his much awaited 100th career title at the Geneva Open and is eyeing his 25th Grand Slam title at the Roland Garros now. He added:

I ask myself that every day; sometimes I think this might be the last time I’m here. Probably, this is my last Roland Garros. It’s all part of what’s going through my mind right now; these are thoughts that I find hard to shake off. When you’re training, there are many things you’ve been working on for so long that they should come out easily later… but it’s not always the case.

Despite the passion, the question of retirement is always there for Wawrinka. He admitted to still not knowing how he will face it.

Stan Wawrinka remarks he has achieved much more than he could have dreamt of

Stan Wawrinka has had a pretty good career, winning 3 Grand Slam titles in the Big three era, a Davis Cup title and the Olympic gold in doubles. He clinched a total of 16 ATP singles titles. Wawrinka continued:

I think I achieved much more than I could have dreamed of when I was young. My dream was to be a professional tennis player, have the opportunity to compete in these Grand Slam tournaments, just to be in the main draws. Then I had the chance to win three of them, the chance to achieve incredible things for Switzerland with the Davis Cup and the Olympics. I am very happy with what I have accomplished so far, but the disappointments of the past few weeks are getting increasingly difficult to digest; it’s important to be realistic.