Stan Wawrinka carried on his farewell tour with a stop in Montpellier, following the send-off he received at the Australian Open.
During the offseason, Wawrinka decided that this would be his final season before retirement. He plans to step away from professional tennis at the end of 2026.
At 40 years old, the Swiss veteran started his farewell campaign with a stint at the United Cup and reached the third round in Melbourne Park.
He opened his Montpellier run with a win over Hamad Medjedovic but was knocked out by top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last 16.
Felix Auger-Aliassime pays tribute to Stan Wawrinka after their first meeting
“Grateful to have gotten the opportunity to share the court with you at least once during your outstanding career @stanwawrinka85,” he wrote.
“Always hoped I’d have the chance to experience that special backhand of yours. Wishing you all the best for the rest of your season.”
The 25-year-old also looked ahead: “On to Quarters today and hoping for another evening of fun atmosphere in Montpellier.”
Wawrinka and Auger-Aliassime had never faced each other at tour level before, despite both spending considerable time on the circuit.
Their first meeting came in Montpellier, where Auger-Aliassime won 6-4, 7-6.
Wawrinka set for Rotterdam return after Montpellier departure
After his early exit in Montpellier, Stan Wawrinka will look to bounce back at the Rotterdam Open, where he’s been handed a wildcard entry.
The tournament has seen withdrawals from both Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev following their strong showings at the Australian Open.
However, the draw still boasts plenty of quality. Alex de Minaur, Jack Draper and Daniil Medvedev are all confirmed participants.
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