Stan Wawrinka says farewell after 6-7(4), 6-7(3), 0-6 loss to Matteo Berrettini at US Open
Stan Wawrinka lost 6-7(4), 6-7(3), 0-6 to Matteo Berrettini on Monday on Grandstand at the US Open, ending his final appearance at a major tournament. The 41-year-old, who is set to retire at the end of the season, received an emotional send-off after the match.
Wawrinka has a long history in New York, having won the third of his three Grand Slam titles at the US Open in 2016 when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final. He told the crowd during the post-match ceremony, "It has been 20 years since I first came to New York," and added, "I remember the first time I came here. It was impressive for me to feel the New York vibe and the energy of this tournament." Monday's defeat on Grandstand was his last outing at a major.
The match’s opening two sets were tightly contested and the packed crowd repeatedly rallied behind Wawrinka as he fought back after falling behind early in the first set. He broke Berrettini while the Italian was serving for the set and later earned a set point, but Berrettini survived a lengthy game and then prevailed in the tiebreak.
The second set followed a similar pattern with Wawrinka creating multiple opportunities; he fashioned seven break points, including three set points, but was unable to convert any of them. Berrettini again held firm in the tiebreak to move within a single set of victory.
Berrettini pulled away in the third set, securing three breaks and closing out the match without dropping a game in that set. The crowd’s sustained support was a prominent feature of the evening and Wawrinka responded emotionally, saying, "But over the years, I have received so much support and love. Because of you [the fans] I really enjoyed it and I found a way to play my best tennis here." He also said, "Tonight, again, was the reason why I kept playing until 41. [It is because of] the moments like you gave me tonight, like you gave us tonight. This is an amazing sport."
Wawrinka had initially missed direct entry to the singles draw but received a last-minute wildcard following Patrick Kypson's withdrawal, which allowed him to complete his Grand Slam farewell at the tournament where he lifted the trophy 10 years ago. Reflecting on that opportunity he said, "I am super grateful for the wild card because it was important for me to have the opportunity to finish playing all four Grand Slams here in New York," and added, "I'm gonna miss it for sure. I'm gonna miss it big time."
Wawrinka finishes his US Open career with a 46-17 record and had also reached the semi-finals in 2013 and 2015. Berrettini advances to the second round, where he will face Mariano Navone.
