A Champion's Request
When Novak Djokovic arrived in Basel this week, one of his first moves had nothing to do with his own preparation. Swiss Indoors president Roger Brennwald revealed that Djokovic sought him out specifically to ask whether he could be present for Stan Wawrinka's opening match, which marks the beginning of the Swiss veteran's farewell to professional tennis. Brennwald, clearly moved by the gesture, described it as something that reflects deeply on Djokovic's character as both a champion and a human being. He subsequently invited Djokovic to his personal hospitality box, where other notable figures including former Swiss tennis star Martina Hingis will also be in attendance.
The backdrop to this moment makes it even more compelling. Wawrinka defeated Djokovic in all three of his Grand Slam triumphs, beating him in the quarterfinals at the 2014 Australian Open and in finals at the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open. Despite those painful losses, Djokovic's admiration for his longtime rival clearly runs deep.
A Career Worth Celebrating
Wawrinka, now 41 years old and competing on a wildcard in Basel, has spent over two decades on tour. He reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3, collected 16 singles titles, and accomplished all of this while navigating the enormous shadow cast by compatriot Roger Federer. Swiss compatriot Viktorija Golubic told Tennis365 it was "incredible" what Wawrinka achieved in the era of Federer, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray, and praised both his fighting spirit and his authenticity as a person.
Brenwald noted that Wawrinka's retirement plan came together with a single phone call earlier this year, with the tournament president immediately agreeing to organize a proper send-off ceremony. Wawrinka's first potential final match is against Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday evening. TennisDraw users selecting bracket upsets in Basel will want to keep a close eye on how this emotional week unfolds.
