Stan Wawrinka Bids Farewell to Wimbledon After Thrilling Match Against Matteo Berrettini
Wawrinka's Emotional Exit from Wimbledon
Photo: IANS
London, July 1: Stan Wawrinka said goodbye to Wimbledon after a gripping match where Matteo Berrettini edged past the three-time Grand Slam champion with scores of 6-7 (7), 7-6 (16), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) over four intense sets.
The former world No. 3, who plans to retire at the end of the season, showcased his skills in front of a captivated audience, but Berrettini proved to be a tough opponent after a grueling four hours and 19 minutes.
At 41 years and 106 days old, Wawrinka was the oldest player in the tournament. This marked his 19th and final appearance at Wimbledon, as he bids farewell to his beloved venues during his last season on the Tour.
“Tonight was another great battle,” an emotional Wawrinka expressed. “Saying goodbye to something you love is never easy. My passion for the game has always been strong, and I’m thankful for the chance to play here one last time. I couldn’t have asked for a better farewell.”
“I don’t want to retire, but I recognize it’s time to move on. One reason I continued playing was to experience moments like tonight. The emotions are overwhelming. I’m grateful for the wild card that allowed me to compete at Wimbledon one last time,” he added.
Wawrinka, who triumphed in three Grand Slam tournaments during the era of legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, won the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open in 2015, and the US Open in 2016.
As the first two sets progressed to tie-breaks, a note appeared on the TV screen indicating a “seven-point tie-break” format. Wawrinka clinched the first set 9-7, while Berrettini took the second set 18-16.
In the next tie-break, Berrettini won 9-7, capitalizing on a double fault from Wawrinka. The roof was closed on No. 1 Court, and after two and a half sets, Wawrinka had yet to face a break point.
As the match approached three hours, Berrettini finally broke Wawrinka’s serve, marking only the fourth break point of the match. The Italian then won another tie-break 7-5, concluding Wawrinka’s Wimbledon journey after four hours and 20 minutes.
“He’s a legend, and he proved it today... An incredible player and competitor. I remember sneaking into Centre Court in 2014 to watch him play against Roger Federer. It’s a huge honor to face him here on Court 1. I feel privileged and grateful,” Berrettini remarked about Wawrinka.
Berrettini, returning to competition after a strong performance at Roland Garros, won 86% of his first-serve points against Wawrinka. With this victory, the 30-year-old Italian leads their ATP Head-to-Head series 1-0 and will face the promising 22-year-old Arthur Fils in the next round.