“Close to The End of My Career”: Stan Wawrinka Reflects on 2021 Season

Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka has said that while he may be nearing the end of his career, he still has a solid ATP season in him. Now 35, Wawrinka said he realizes he isn’t getting any younger but still feels that his body can hold the rigors of top-line tennis at least for a little while more.

Speaking to reporters after his win over Dan Evans of Great Britain at the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday, the 20th-ranked Wawrinka said, “I’m close to the end of my career.”

Stan Wawrinka beat Dan Evans in his opening match at Rolex Paris Masters 2020

Wawrinka, however, hastened to add that he felt in good shape for season 2021 on the ATP circuit.

“…but I also believe I have one last push that I really want to, again, one more time push myself to the limit, make the sacrifice that you need to make to be at my top, and I’m trying to do that.”

Wawrinka’s first-round win over Evans at the Masters had enough hints of his level of motivation and fitness, even in the twilight of his career. 

Though the eventual scoreline read 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in Wawrinka’s favor, it was far from smooth sailing for the Swiss. 

Wawrinka strolled through the opening set but Evans came out more determined in the second and took it to a tie-breaker. However, Wawrinka never let his focus flag and won the tie-break fairly comfortably.

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This was Wawrinka’s second meeting with the Briton inside three weeks after the fiercely-fought first-round encounter at the St. Petersburg Open.

Evans was on match-point in the Russian city before Wawrinka conjured a miraculous fightback to stay alive in the contest and eventually won it.

Wawrinka’s strong comeback after dip in form

While Wawrinka fell in the quarter-final stage at St. Petersburg, Evans progressed to the semi-finals at the European Open in Antwerp and Erste Bank Open in Vienna.

Wawrinka suffered a dip in form and was beaten in the first-round in Vienna.

Illustrating his poor run of form coming into the Rolex Paris Masters, Wawrinka has converted just 7 of 32 break-points in his last four matches across events.