PARIS — The tennis world is no stranger to debates about longevity and the appropriate time for an athlete to hang up their racquet. The latest icon to find himself at the center of this perennial conversation is the beloved Swiss champion, Stan Wawrinka. Despite turning 40 in March, Wawrinka has continued to compete with the fiery passion that has defined his career, even as his ranking has plummeted to levels not seen in nearly two decades. This dramatic drop has prompted some vocal critics to suggest his time is up, but the three-time Grand Slam champion has responded with the same defiant resolve that powered him to his greatest triumphs.
A Champion's Ranking Plunge
Following a first-round exit at the French Open, a tournament he won in spectacular fashion back in 2015, Wawrinka's ranking fell to World No. 97. This marks his first time outside the Top 100 since October 2023, and a far cry from his career-high of World No. 3. For a player of his stature, such a slide is often interpreted as a clear signal of decline. He has appeared at just two Grand Slams so far in 2024—the Australian Open and Roland Garros—and has managed only a handful of match wins on the ATP Tour. This sparse record has given ammunition to those who believe he is tarnishing his legacy by playing on.
The criticism came to a head recently when a social media user directly told the veteran, "Stan, it's time to retire. You're too old for this. Let the young guys play. You're just losing in the first round every week. It's sad to watch." Rather than ignoring the comment or responding with hostility, Wawrinka offered a perspective that only a player with his experience could. His reply was simple, poignant, and packed with meaning: "As long as I'm having fun and I'm healthy I'll do what I love."
The Fuel of a Competitor
This statement is a perfect encapsulation of Wawrinka's current motivation. For him, tennis is no longer about the relentless pursuit of rankings or the pressure to add to his major tally—goals that drove him during his peak years battling the "Big Four." Instead, his career is now fueled by a pure, unadulterated love for the game and the competition itself. In various interviews throughout the 2024 season, he has consistently echoed this sentiment. After a tough loss in Bordeaux, he reflected, "The love for the game is still there. The fire to fight, to try to win matches, is still there. That's the reason I'm still here."
His journey is a testament to resilience. Wawrinka has battled back from multiple serious injuries, including two foot surgeries that kept him off the tour for extended periods and threatened to end his career prematurely. The fact that he has fought through grueling rehabilitation not once, but several times, to return to the sport he loves speaks volumes about his character. He isn't playing for validation or to prove his critics wrong; he is playing for himself.
What the Numbers Say in 2024
A cursory glance at the statistics might seem to support the critics' argument. His results this year have been undeniably lean. However, a deeper look reveals a more nuanced story. While the wins are few, his matches are almost never straightforward. He continues to push top-tier opponents, often taking sets and forcing them to dig deep. His current season can be summarized by a few key data points:
- A season record of 5-13 as of early June 2024.
- A first-round exit at the Australian Open at the hands of France's Adrian Mannarino.
- A first-round loss at the French Open to Pavel Kotov, a match that stretched over four tight sets.
- Notable three-set battles against rising stars like Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
These results indicate that while he may lack the consistency to string together multiple wins, his level of tennis in short bursts can still be formidable. He is not being routinely blown off the court; he is competing, fighting for every point, and making younger, higher-ranked players earn their victory. This competitive spirit is what keeps him going and continues to endear him to fans worldwide.
The Bigger Picture: Legacy Beyond Trophies
The pressure for legendary athletes to retire on a high note is immense. The narrative of going out as a champion is a seductive one. Yet, Wawrinka represents a different, perhaps more relatable, philosophy. His legacy was already secure a decade ago with his first major win in Melbourne. The subsequent French Open and US Open titles only cemented his status as one of the greats of his generation. He has nothing left to prove to the tennis history books. His continued presence on the tour now serves a different purpose. He is a living lesson in perseverance, a bridge between eras, and an example that an athlete's career can be defined by more than just silverware and ranking points in its final chapters.
Fellow players have also rushed to his defense. The younger generation, who grew up watching his epic battles, holds him in high esteem. After a practice session with Wawrinka earlier this year, World No. 2 Jannik Sinner remarked, "Stan is a legend. To see him still here, working so hard, it's inspiring for all of us. He plays for the right reasons." This sentiment is shared by many in the locker room, who see his enduring passion as a testament to the sport's enduring appeal.
The Final Point: Stan's Court, Stan's Rules
In the end, the debate over Stan Wawrinka's retirement is one that only he can settle. The critics who point to his ranking and early losses are not entirely wrong from a purely results-oriented perspective. But they are missing the fundamental point of why he continues to play. Tennis is his profession, but it is also his love and his choice. His response to the retirement pressure was not born of arrogance, but of a profound self-awareness and a commitment to personal fulfillment.
As long as he wakes up healthy, eager to step onto the practice court, and still feels that competitive fire when he walks onto a stadium court—whether it's in front of 15,000 people at Roland Garros or a smaller crowd at an ATP 250 event—Stan Wawrinka will continue to do what he loves. And for the millions of fans who admire his brutal one-handed backhand and his even more formidable fighting spirit, that is more than enough reason to keep watching. The final chapter of his storied career will be written on his own terms, and not a moment sooner.