Stan Wawrinka’s 23-year career ends with Basel defeat

Stan Wawrinka’s professional tennis career ended with a straight-sets defeat by Jiri Lehecka at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, bringing the curtain down on a 23-year career that included three Grand Slam titles.

The 41-year-old former world number three lost 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) to the Czech, ranked 21st, in his final tour-level match on Tuesday. The result came after a farewell ceremony in Basel on Monday.

Wawrinka won the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open in 2015 and the US Open in 2016, beating Novak Djokovic in the final at both Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows. His three major titles came during an era dominated by Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

He said his priority throughout his career had been to give everything and have no regrets, adding that he wanted always to fight and give 100% in every match.

Wawrinka finished with 590 tour-level match wins and 16 titles. He spent 267 weeks in the world’s top 10 and won one Masters 1000 event. In recent seasons, he also played on the ATP Challenger Tour, below the main tour.