Stan Wawrinka gets a standing ovation in Basel before his farewell

What happened

Stan Wawrinka received a standing ovation at the Swiss Indoors in Basel on Monday, 26 October 2026 [1] [6]. The ATP Tour video page is headlined "Wawrinka walks out to emotional standing ovation in Basel" [1]. Blick describes standing ovations lasting several minutes [8], and 20 Minuten reports the standing ovation in the arena [7].

According to 20 Minuten, Wawrinka was visibly moved and had to wipe away tears [7]. TennisWatcher says the ovation came on Centre Court and that the ceremony lasted more than an hour [6].

The evening was a tribute organised by the tournament. The Swiss Indoors had announced it for 6 p.m. on Super Monday, 26 October 2026 [3] [5]. Tournament director Roger Brennwald called him "the Sylvester Stallone of tennis" and gave him a golden ball, according to TennisWatcher [6]. Roger Federer sent a video message but did not attend in person, the same report says [6].

Wawrinka's own remarks were short. According to 20 Minuten, he said it was a dream to end his career at home, although he never won in Basel [7]. TennisWatcher quotes him as saying, "I always gave the best of myself, but I never dreamed of winning Grand Slams" [6].

TennisWatcher also describes a giant portrait of Wawrinka that was spray-painted live on court, and a song performed for him by the Swiss singer Bastian Baker, a close friend. The evening ended with a lap of honour to "Time to Say Goodbye" [6]. In Blick's account, Wawrinka said that his family and daughter being there was "the greatest gift for me" [8]. The tournament site also published a news item titled "Basel celebrates Stan Wawrinka" on 26 October 2026 [4].

Background

Wawrinka is 41 [5] [7]. The Swiss Indoors describe him as a three-time Grand Slam winner [3]. The ATP biography lists the three Grand Slam finals he won, against Rafael Nadal at the 2014 Australian Open and against Novak Djokovic at the 2015 Roland Garros and the 2016 US Open [2] [3].

The Swiss Indoors is an ATP 500 event that runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026 [4] [3]. The tournament home page describes Super Monday as the day the main draw opens [4].

In May 2026 the tournament announced a ticket pre-sale for Wawrinka's farewell in Basel [3]. Tennis.com reported that he would retire on home soil in October, in Basel [5]. The tournament said that Basel "marks the end of the line" for him as he says goodbye to the game [3] [5].

What comes next

His first-round match is against Jiří Lehečka on Tuesday, 27 October [6] [8]. Blick notes that the ceremony took place the day before that match [8]. TennisWatcher says that match could be the last of his professional career [6]. Blick calls Basel his last ATP tournament [8].

The sources reviewed do not announce any playing schedule after Basel. Blick reports a farewell evening that he organises himself, on 19 December in Geneva, with Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Gaël Monfils [8]. None of the reports says whether he will play again after that.