Swiss tennis fans in Dubai were starstruck as 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka continued his winning ways in his final year on the ATP Tour.
Wawrinka defeated Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3, in his opening round Dubai Duty Free Championships match. Stan the Man or Stanimal, as he is sometimes called, is the 2016 Dubai champion who had a VIP in attendance supporting him.
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His Swiss teammate, Roger Federer, was in stands watching Wawrinka break his record of being the oldest man to win a main draw Dubai match.
Mar 18, 2017; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Stan Wawrinka (SUI) passes Roger Federer (SUI) in the tunnel in between semi-final matches in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Wawrinka and Federer are compatriots and friends who teamed up to win an Olympic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing games in menâs doubles.
Stan Wawrinka could met Medvedev in the next round
Ever since Stan Wawrinka announced that 2026 would be his final year on the ATP Tour, fans have gathered at his matches to honor him.
Wawrinka, who will turn 41 on March 28, is not only getting accolades; he is also winning matches. His next round opponent could be Daniil Medvedev which is a huge challenge that Wawrinka is not shying away from during his swan song.
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He loves the game, competing at a high level, and seeing how the chips fall. Wawrinka is a three-time Grand Slam champion who managed to wrestle those titles away from Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic in their peak years.
Wawrinkaâs one-handed backhand remains a thing of a beauty and nearly extinct on the ATP Tour as most of the next generation players have opted for a two-handed version.
Federer will always be a fan favorite
Wearing a black UNIQLO baseball cap, the smiling Federer gave Wawrinka a standing ovation.
He also had a few postmatch words with Hassan that he was eager to share with the press. Hassan joked that he is never washing his hand again after Federer shook it.
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