Switzerland Stan Wawrinka: The Man Who Crashed the Big Three's Party
In the most dominant era men's tennis has ever seen, when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic won almost everything, one man kept walking into the biggest finals and taking the trophy anyway. Stan Wawrinka won three Grand Slams, beat the world No. 1 in all three of those finals, and did it with the most thunderous one-handed backhand of his generation.
In 2026, at 41, "Stan the Man" is playing his final season. Here is the story of a late bloomer who became one of the most loved players on tour.
Early Life: Lausanne and a Farm
Stanislas Wawrinka was born on 28 March 1985 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and grew up near the city, where his parents worked on a farm that employed people with disabilities. He holds Swiss and German citizenship. He won the French Open junior title in 2003 and turned professional soon after.
For most of his twenties, he lived in the shadow of his compatriot Roger Federer. He was a good player, often in the top 20, but not a Grand Slam contender. That changed when he began working with Swedish coach Magnus Norman in 2013.
"Ever Tried. Ever Failed."
Wawrinka has a quote from Samuel Beckett tattooed on his forearm: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." It became the unofficial motto of his career. He had lost heartbreaking five-setters to Djokovic at the 2013 Australian Open and US Open. A few months later, it all turned.
The Three Grand Slams
- 2014 Australian Open: Wawrinka beat Djokovic in a five-set quarter-final, then defeated Rafael Nadal in the final. Nadal was hampered by a back problem, but Wawrinka had won the first set outright. It was his first Grand Slam at 28, and he rose to a career-high No. 3.
- 2015 French Open: In one of the great Grand Slam finals of the decade, he overpowered world No. 1 Djokovic, who was chasing the only major he had never won. Wawrinka's backhand winners on Court Philippe-Chatrier became instant highlights.
- 2016 US Open: He beat Djokovic again, coming from a set down and saving a match point along the way in the third round against Dan Evans. He famously admitted he had been shaking with nerves in the locker room before the final.
He also reached the 2017 French Open final, losing to Nadal. Remarkably, he won every one of the first three Grand Slam finals he played.
Five Stan Matches to Watch
- 2013 Australian Open, fourth round vs Djokovic: lost 12-10 in the fifth set after more than five hours. It was the defeat that convinced people he belonged at the very top.
- 2014 Australian Open quarter-final vs Djokovic: the revenge, 9-7 in the fifth, ending the Serb's run of three straight titles in Melbourne.
- 2015 French Open quarter-final vs Federer: a straight-sets win over his friend and Davis Cup team-mate, on the way to the title.
- 2015 French Open final vs Djokovic: four sets of controlled violence and perhaps the best big-match performance of his life.
- 2019 French Open fourth round vs Stefanos Tsitsipas: five hours and nine minutes of brilliant, emotional tennis that showed he was back after two knee operations.
More Than the Slams
Wawrinka's trophy cabinet goes beyond the majors:
- Olympic gold: men's doubles at Beijing 2008, alongside Federer.
- Davis Cup: part of the Swiss team, with Federer, that won the title for the first time in 2014.
- Monte Carlo Masters: 2014, beating Federer in the final.
- 16 ATP singles titles in total.
Playing Style: Heavy Hitting
Wawrinka's game was all about weight of shot. His one-handed backhand was a weapon on either wing of the court, and he could hit it down the line with shocking power from well behind the baseline. His forehand was just as heavy, his serve powerful, and his physical strength let him win long, brutal rallies.
He was streaky. When his timing was off, he could lose to anyone. But when everything clicked, he could beat anyone too, and in the biggest matches, more often than not, it clicked.
Injuries and the Long Road Back
In 2017 Wawrinka needed two knee operations, and his ranking fell outside the top 250. He came back, reached the 2019 French Open quarter-finals after a five-hour, nine-minute win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, and returned to the top 20. A foot operation in 2021 set him back again. Each time, he chose to keep going.
In his late thirties he kept playing Challengers and qualifying rounds when he could easily have stopped. In 2023, at 38, he reached the semi-finals in Umag, making him one of the oldest ATP semi-finalists in history.
The Final Season: 2026
In December 2025, Wawrinka confirmed that 2026 would be his last year on tour, calling it one last push. His farewell tour has been full of emotion:
- Australian Open: At 40, he won two matches, including a four-and-a-half-hour five-setter against Arthur Gea, becoming the oldest man to reach the third round in Melbourne since Ken Rosewall in 1978. He lost to Taylor Fritz and was given an on-court celebration, a highlights reel of his 2014 title and a farewell beer.
- US Open: He said goodbye to Grand Slam tennis in New York, where he won in 2016, losing in the first round to Matteo Berrettini 7-6, 7-6, 6-0. He called it important to finish his run at all four majors and said he was at peace with himself.
His plan is to finish playing at the end of the 2026 season.
Life Away From the Court
Wawrinka lives in Switzerland and has a daughter, born in 2010. He has been coached for most of his career by Magnus Norman, and he is known as one of the most down-to-earth and funny personalities in the locker room, as well as one of the few players willing to speak out on issues in the sport.
With about $38.6 million in official prize money, he sits among the top ten career earners in ATP history. Read more in our guide to how much tennis players earn.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Stanislas Wawrinka
- Born: 28 March 1985, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Plays: right-handed, one-handed backhand
- Grand Slam titles: 3 (2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, 2016 US Open)
- ATP singles titles: 16
- Highest ranking: No. 3 (January 2014)
- Olympics: gold, men's doubles, Beijing 2008 (with Roger Federer)
- Davis Cup: champion 2014
- Coach: Magnus Norman (most of his career)
- Status: retiring at the end of the 2026 season