Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka shared a practice session in Basel on Sunday, creating a special moment ahead of the Swiss veteran’s final tournament as a professional tennis player.
The two former Grand Slam champions took to the court before the Swiss Indoors Basel, where Djokovic is making his first appearance since 2011 and Wawrinka is preparing to bring his career to a close on home soil.
The ATP Tour highlighted the meeting on social media, with Djokovic offering Wawrinka a heartfelt message: “Enjoy the last ride.” The words captured the significance of the occasion as the 41-year-old Swiss prepares to say goodbye to the sport after more than two decades on tour.
Wawrinka has enjoyed a distinguished career, reaching a career-high world No. 3 and winning 16 tour-level titles, including three Grand Slam singles crowns at the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open in 2015 and the US Open in 2016. His powerful one-handed backhand and ability to challenge the sport’s biggest names made him one of the most respected players of his generation.
Source: ATP Tour
Although Basel has not been among his most successful tournaments, Wawrinka has twice reached the semi-finals, in 2006 and 2011. This year, however, the focus is less on results and more on giving the home favourite a fitting farewell.
Wawrinka is scheduled to begin his final tournament against eighth seed Jiri Lehecka. The match could mark the end of a career that saw him compete against several generations of tennis stars, including Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has his own objectives in Basel. The Serbian is returning to the ATP 500 event for the first time in 15 years, having won the title in 2009 and reached the final in 2010. He is also chasing valuable ranking points as he attempts to secure a place at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
Currently outside the qualification positions, Djokovic will open his campaign against France’s Ugo Humbert. A strong run in Basel could improve his chances of extending his record of appearances at the prestigious year-end tournament.
The meeting between Djokovic and Wawrinka therefore carries significance beyond a routine practice session. While Djokovic looks to keep his season going with another title challenge, Wawrinka is preparing for an emotional farewell in front of his home crowd, closing a memorable chapter in tennis history.