Wawrinka Wins United Cup Opener Over Rinderknech

Stan Wawrinka launched his final season on the ATP Tour with a gritty comeback victory over Arthur Rinderknech at the United Cup in Perth, Australia, on Saturday. The 40-year-old Swiss player, who announced last month that 2026 would mark his retirement, defeated the 29th-ranked Frenchman 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) in a match lasting three hours and 16 minutes, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead for Switzerland against France.

Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion whose highest ranking was No. 3, overcame a break deficit in the third set and rallied from 2-4 down in the decisive tiebreaker to seal the win on his first match point. Ranked 157th, he relied on his experience and resilience against an opponent a decade younger who had reached the Shanghai Masters final last year. The triumph marked Wawrinka's 583rd career ATP win and extended his record of securing a Tour-level victory in 23 different seasons, a feat achieved by only four other players in the Open Era: Jimmy Connors with 25, Roger Federer and Richard Gasquet with 24 each, and Rafael Nadal with 23.

"This is why I keep playing. I'm passionate about the game. I'm always going to push my own limit," Wawrinka said...