US Open: Stan Wawrinka Gives It a Shot Against Berrettini, but Matteo Wins

Stan Wawrinka played his final match at the U.S. Open. The 41-year-old Swiss player, who won the tournament in 2016, was eliminated in the first round by Matteo Berrettini. For Wawrinka, this was also his final match in a Grand Slam tournament, as he has already announced his retirement at the end of the season.

Despite losing the final set 6-0, Wawrinka managed to hold his own against Berrettini in the first two sets, forcing both to a tiebreak. The Swiss player once again displayed some of the shots that have defined his career, managing—especially in the early stages—to put the Italian on the defensive.

The match took place in a relaxed and sportsmanlike atmosphere. Even when Berrettini requested a video review to check for a possible double-touch by Wawrinka near the net, the two players exchanged a few words and smiles.

At the end of the match, a video highlighting the key moments of the Swiss player’s career was shown. Wawrinka then addressed the crowd, recalling that he had to wait until the very last minute to receive the wild card needed to participate in the tournament. It was particularly important for him to end his Grand Slam career right here in New York, ten years after his 2016 victory.