Career Timeline of Stan Wawrinka: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Stan Wawrinka, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Stan Wawrinka is a highly accomplished Swiss professional tennis player, reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 3. He boasts an impressive record of 16 ATP Tour-level singles titles, most notably securing three Grand Slam victories at the Australian Open (2014), French Open (2015), and US Open (2016), defeating the top-ranked player in each final. Furthermore, Wawrinka earned an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles alongside Roger Federer at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His contribution was also vital in Switzerland's Davis Cup triumph in 2014.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1990: Third-Oldest Semifinalist in ATP History

In 2024, Stan Wawrinka became the third-oldest semifinalist in ATP history (since 1990), behind Jimmy Connors and Ivo Karlovic.

2002: Became Professional

In 2002, Wawrinka became professional, marking the start of his professional tennis career.

June 2003: Reached Junior World Ranking No. 7

In June 2003, Wawrinka reached as high as No. 7 in the junior world rankings.

2004: Reached Davis Cup Quarterfinal

In 2004, Switzerland reached their first Davis Cup quarterfinal since 2004, after Wawrinka defeated Dušan Lajović in the first round.

2005: US Open Performance

At the US Open in 2005, Wawrinka lost in the third round to Nicolás Massú, finishing the year just inside the top 50.

2006: Davis Cup Match Against Djokovic

In 2006, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic played a five set match at the Davis Cup.

May 2008: Top-10 ATP Ranking

In May 2008, Wawrinka achieved a top-10 ranking by the ATP for the first time.

2008: Canada Open Match Against Murray

In 2008, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray contested a close match at the Canada Open, which Murray won in three sets.

2008: Olympic Gold

In 2008, Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer won the doubles Olympic Gold at the Beijing Olympics.

2008: Reached Rome Masters Final

In 2008, Wawrinka reached the final of the Rome Masters.

2009: Del Potro Won US Open

In 2009, Juan Martín del Potro won the US Open, marking a rare occasion where a player outside of the 'Big Four' won a Grand Slam title.

2009: Wimbledon Fourth Round Loss to Murray

In 2009, Stan Wawrinka lost to Andy Murray in five sets in the Wimbledon fourth round, the first men's match to be played under the Wimbledon roof.

2010: US Open Victory Over Murray

In 2010, Stan Wawrinka won against Andy Murray in four sets at the US Open.

2010: Won Second ATP Tournament at Grand Prix Hassan II

In 2010, Wawrinka started the season reaching the Chennai Open final and later won his second ATP Tournament at the Grand Prix Hassan II, ending a 3½-year title drought. His wife also gave birth to their daughter that year.

January 2011: Won Portugal Open

In January 2011, Wawrinka won the fourth title of his career at the Portugal Open, defeating David Ferrer. It was his first title since January 2011.

2011: Shanghai Masters Match Against Murray

In 2011, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray contested a close match at the Shanghai Masters, which Murray won in three sets.

2011: Won Chennai Open Crown

In 2011, Wawrinka started the year by winning the Chennai Open, defeating Xavier Malisse in the final. He reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and was defeated by Roger Federer.

2012: Shanghai Masters Match Against Federer

In 2012, Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer contested a close match at the Shanghai Masters, which Federer won in three sets.

February 2013: Played Longest ATP Doubles Match

On February 2, 2013, Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli were defeated by Lukáš Rosol and Tomáš Berdych in the longest ATP doubles match in history, lasting 7 hours and 2 minutes, during the Davis Cup.

2013: Winning Streak Against Murray Begins

Between 2013 and 2015, Stan Wawrinka beat Andy Murray three consecutive times, winning all of them in straight sets.

2013: Improved Mental Toughness

In 2013, Magnus Norman is credited with improving Stan Wawrinka's mental toughness, demonstrated by his victory over Andy Murray at the US Open.

2013: Masters 1000 final at Madrid

In 2013, Rafael Nadal defeated Stan Wawrinka in straight sets in the Masters 1000 final at Madrid, marking one of Nadal's initial 12 straight victories against Wawrinka.

2013: Australian and US Open Matches Against Djokovic

In 2013, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic played memorable matches at the Australian Open and US Open, with Djokovic winning both in five sets.

2013: Indian Wells Masters Match Against Federer

In 2013, Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer contested a close match at the Indian Wells Masters, which Federer won in three sets.

2013: Began Working with Coach Magnus Norman

In 2013, Stan Wawrinka began working with Magnus Norman as his coach, leading to improvements in his game, qualification for the ATP World Tour Finals, and a Top 10 year-end ranking.

2013: US Open Quarterfinal Victory Over Murray

In 2013, Stan Wawrinka ended Andy Murray's title defence at the US Open quarterfinals with a straight sets victory.

2013: Played Longest Doubles Match

In 2013, Wawrinka played in the longest doubles match in history at the Davis Cup, partnering with Marco Chiudinelli against the Czech Republic.

2013: Reached Madrid Masters Final

In 2013, Wawrinka reached the final of the Madrid Masters.

January 2014: Career Peak Ranking

On January 27, 2014, Wawrinka reached his career peak of world No. 3 and became the Swiss No. 1.

2014: Grand Slam finals

As of 2016, looking back to 2014, Stan Wawrinka remained the only player to defeat Novak Djokovic in Djokovic's twelve Grand Slam finals dating back to the 2014 Wimbledon championships.

2014: Davis Cup Win

In 2014, Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer won the Davis Cup.

2014: Australian Open Victory Over Djokovic

In 2014, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals, ending Djokovic's streak of 14 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals and his 25-match winning streak at the Australian Open.

2014: Monte Carlo Rolex Masters Victory Over Federer

In 2014, Stan Wawrinka defeated Roger Federer in three sets to win the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, his first Masters 1000 title.

2014: 2014 Australian Open final

In 2014, Stan Wawrinka secured his first victory against Rafael Nadal in their first Grand Slam final, the Australian Open, winning in 4 sets and preventing Nadal from achieving a double career slam. This match was unique as it was the only one between them not won in straight sets.

2014: Won Monte-Carlo Masters

In 2014, Wawrinka won a Masters 1000 title at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

2014: Won Australian Open & Davis Cup

In 2014, Wawrinka won the Australian Open and the Davis Cup for Switzerland.

2014: Backhand Drive Motion Analyzed

In 2014, Wawrinka's backhand drive motion was analyzed in a New York Times Magazine article for its unique characteristics.

2015: 2015 French Open

As of 2016, Stan Wawrinka's 2015 French Open victory denied Novak Djokovic the 2015 calendar year Grand Slam.

2015: Winning Streak Against Murray Ends

Between 2013 and 2015, Stan Wawrinka beat Andy Murray three consecutive times, winning all of them in straight sets.

2015: French Open Victory Over Djokovic

In 2015, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets to win the French Open, becoming the only player besides Roger Federer to defeat Djokovic in both the Australian Open and the French Open.

2015: French Open Quarterfinals Victory Over Federer

In 2015, Stan Wawrinka defeated Roger Federer in straight sets during the French Open quarterfinals en route to winning the title.

2015: US Open and Davis Cup

In 2015, Stan Wawrinka had a strong showing at the US Open, advancing to the semifinals where he lost to Roger Federer. He then helped Switzerland progress to the Davis Cup World Group with a victory over Thiemo de Bakker. He also won the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships, defeating Benoît Paire in the final. He reached the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, losing to Rafael Nadal and the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals, losing to Roger Federer.

June 2016: Equipment and endorsements

As of June 2016, Stan Wawrinka uses Yonex clothing and shoes, along with the Yonex VCORE 95D racquet with the Yonex Vcore Duel G paint job, previously using a Yonex VCORE Tour 97 paint job. He uses Babolat's RPM Blast string, stringing his rackets at 27 kg for the main strings and 25 kg for the cross strings. He's also an ambassador for the TGV Lyria train service.

2016: US Open Upset

At the 2016 US Open, Stan Wawrinka upset top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic in the round of 16, marking his third win over Djokovic when he was No. 1. He lost in the quarterfinal to Daniil Medvedev.

2016: Murray Ends Wawrinka's Winning Streak

In 2016, Andy Murray ended Wawrinka's winning streak at the French Open, beating the defending champion in four sets.

2016: US Open Victory Over Djokovic

In 2016, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets to win the US Open singles title.

2016: Wawrinka wins the 2016 U.S. Open

In 2016, Stan Wawrinka won the U.S. Open, marking his third major title in as many years. He defeated Novak Djokovic in the final in four sets. Prior to the Open, Wawrinka reached the Top 3 in ATP rankings and had to beat Daniel Evans in a close four-hour match in the third round. He also defeated Juan Martín del Potro and Kei Nishikori en route to the final.

2017: 2017 French Open final

In 2017, Rafael Nadal defeated Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final, marking Nadal's second Grand Slam final victory against Wawrinka.

2017: 2017 Season Start

In 2017, Stan Wawrinka chose not to defend his Chennai Open title and instead played in Brisbane, reaching the semifinals where he lost to Kei Nishikori. At the Australian Open, he reached the semifinals, losing to Roger Federer after a close five-set match. Subsequently, he was upset in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships by Damir Džumhur.

2017: Australian Open Semifinals Loss to Federer

In 2017, Stan Wawrinka lost to Roger Federer in five sets in the Australian Open semifinals.

2017: French Open Semifinal Victory Over Murray

In 2017, Stan Wawrinka prevailed over Andy Murray in a five-set thriller at the French Open semi-final.

2017: Reached fourth round at Indian Wells

In 2017, Stan Wawrinka reached the fourth round at Indian Wells.

2017: Victory Against Andy Murray at French Open

In 2017, Stan Wawrinka's victory against Andy Murray in the semifinals of the French Open contributed to his reputation as a "big-match player".

2018: Murray Wins at Eastbourne International

In 2018, Andy Murray won against Stan Wawrinka in straight sets at the Eastbourne International.

2018: 2018 US Open

In 2018, Stan Wawrinka entered the US Open as a wildcard. He advanced to the third round, defeating Grigor Dimitrov and Ugo Humbert, before losing to Milos Raonic.

2018: North American Hard Court Season

In 2018, Stan Wawrinka narrowly lost in the first round at Washington. He reached the third round at the Rogers Cup, losing to Rafael Nadal. At Cincinnati, he reached the quarterfinals before losing to Roger Federer.

2018: St Petersburg Open and Shanghai Rolex Masters

In 2018, Stan Wawrinka received a wild card and entered the St Petersburg Open, losing to Martin Kližan. He also received a wildcard for the 2018 Shanghai Rolex Masters.

2018: Return to Tour and Setbacks

In 2018, Stan Wawrinka returned to the tour at the Australian Open, losing in the second round. He also lost in the semifinals of the Sofia Open. He retired during his first match at the Open 13 in Marseille due to his knee injury.

2018: Maintained Top 10 Ranking

In 2018, Wawrinka maintained his Top 10 ranking, which he had re-entered after the Madrid Masters. He stayed inside the Top 10 until 2018.

2018: Return to Play After Injury

In 2018, after missing three months due to injury, Stan Wawrinka returned at the Italian Open but lost in the first round. He also lost in the quarterfinals of the Geneva Open. At the French Open, he lost in the first round, causing a significant drop in his rankings. He lost in the second round in Queens and in the first round at Eastbourne against Andy Murray.

2019: Murray Wins European Open

In 2019, Andy Murray prevailed over Stan Wawrinka in the final of the European Open, coming back from a set and a break down to win his first title since 2017 and his hip surgery.

2019: US Open Victory Over Djokovic

In 2019, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic at the US Open after Djokovic retired injured.

2019: Reached First ATP Final Since 2019

In 2019, Stan Wawrinka reached his first ATP final since 2019 in Umag, defeating Filip Misolic, Federico Coria, Roberto Carballes Baena, and Lorenzo Sonego, but was ultimately defeated by Alexei Popyrin.

2019: 2019 Season Start

In 2019, Stan Wawrinka started his season at the Qatar Open, reaching the quarterfinals. At the Australian Open, he was defeated in the second round. He reached the final of the Rotterdam Open and the quarterfinals of the Mexico Open.

2019: French Open Match Against Federer

In 2019, Stan Wawrinka's most recent encounter with Roger Federer took place at the French Open, with Federer winning in four sets.

2019: Victory Against Novak Djokovic at US Open

In 2019, Stan Wawrinka's victory against Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of the US Open added to his reputation as a "big-match player".

2020: 2020 Australian Open

At the 2020 Australian Open, Stan Wawrinka progressed to the quarterfinals after defeating Damir Džumhur, Andreas Seppi, John Isner, and Daniil Medvedev, before losing to Alexander Zverev.

2020: Reached fourth round of Masters-level tournament

In 2020, Stan Wawrinka reached the fourth round of a Masters-level tournament for the first time since 2020 after winning against Holger Rune in Indian Wells.

2020: Highest ranking since 2020

In 2023, Stan Wawrinka concluded the year ranked world No. 49, his highest ranking since 2020

2020: Wawrinka wins French Open First Round

In the 2020 French Open first round Wawrinka won in straight sets against Murray.

2021: 2021 Australian Open

At the 2021 Australian Open, Stan Wawrinka defeated Pedro Sousa in the first round before losing to Márton Fucsovics in the second round.

2021: Consecutive Match Wins

In 2022, using protected ranking, Stan Wawrinka scored his first two consecutive match wins since 2021 against Reilly Opelka and qualifier Laslo Djere at the Italian Open

2022: US Open Retirement and Moselle Open

In 2022, Stan Wawrinka retired during his first-round match at the US Open. At the Moselle Open, he reached the quarterfinals and then the semifinals. At the Swiss Indoors, he defeated Casper Ruud, recording his 60th Top-10 win. He also rehired Magnus Norman as his coach.

2022: Return to Tennis in 2022

In March 2022, Stan Wawrinka returned to professional tennis at the Andalucía Challenger, losing in the first round. He played at the Monte-Carlo Masters, the Italian Open, and the French Open, facing first-round losses. At Wimbledon, he also lost in the first round.

2022: Murray wins Cincinnati Masters

In the first round of the 2022 Cincinnati Masters, Murray won in three tight sets.

August 2023: First Top 10 Win

In August 2023, Stan Wawrinka achieved his first top 10 win since August 2023.

2023: Wimbledon Championships Match Against Djokovic

In 2023, Novak Djokovic defeated Stan Wawrinka in three sets at the Wimbledon Championships.

2023: 2023 Season Start

In 2023, Stan Wawrinka began his season at the United Cup, leading Team Switzerland. His Australian season ended with a first-round loss at the Australian Open.

2024: Oldest Match Winner at Swiss Indoors

In 2024, Stan Wawrinka became the oldest match winner in the Swiss Indoors tournament history, defeating Adrian Mannarino.

2024: Australian and French Open Participation

In 2024, Stan Wawrinka lost to Adrian Mannarino at the Australian Open and also lost to Tomáš Macháč in Indian Wells. At the 2024 French Open, he recorded his 70th Grand Slam participation with a win over Andy Murray.

2024: Stockholm Open Semifinalist

In 2024, at 39 years old, Stan Wawrinka reached the semifinals of the Stockholm Open as the oldest quarterfinalist ever at the tournament, defeating top seed Andrey Rublev for his first top 10 win since August 2023. He became the third-oldest semifinalist in ATP history since 1990.

2024: Received Wildcard for US Open, China Open, and Shanghai Masters

Ranked outside the top 150, Stan Wawrinka received a main draw wildcard for the 2024 US Open, the 2024 China Open, and the 2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters where he lost to Flavio Cobolli due to an umpire scoring error.

December 19, 2025: Announcement of Last Season

On December 19, 2025, Stan Wawrinka announced that 2026 will be his last season on the ATP Tour.

2025: First Win Since October 2024 at Țiriac Open

Aged 40 at the 2025 Țiriac Open, Stan Wawrinka defeated Timofey Skatov to record his first win since October 2024, becoming the third 40-year-old to win an ATP Tour or Grand Slam match on clay since 1980.