Stan Wawrinka’s Enduring Passion for Tennis
Stan Wawrinka, who recently turned 40, exhibits an enduring passion for tennis that drives him to continue his competitive career and shatter records along the way. Just weeks ago, the Swiss star came impressively close to claiming the title of the oldest ATP Challenger champion. In a closely contested final held in Rennes, he faced off against Hugo Gaston but ultimately fell short of breaking Ivo Karlovic’s longstanding record.
Recent Performance and Challenges
Despite this setback, Wawrinka has demonstrated improved form lately. After navigating a rough patch on the main ATP Tour, he found renewed success in Challenger events, winning 10 out of his last 12 matches prior to a withdrawal due to injury. He regrettably had to pull out just before his semi-final clash against Dan Added in Saint Tropez, leaving many of his fans concerned.
Exciting News for the Shanghai Masters
However, hope for his supporters was reignited when the tournament organizers for the 2025 Shanghai Masters announced that Wawrinka would receive a wild card entry. This highly anticipated tournament, one of the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 events of the season, is set to take place from October 1 to 12. This year marks Wawrinka’s 12th appearance at this prestigious event, where he previously reached the quarter-finals on two occasions, in 2013 and 2015.
“Hello everyone, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve received a wild card to compete in the Shanghai Masters. I’m truly grateful for the chance to play in China again, and I thank the tournament organizers for this opportunity. I can’t wait to see all of you there!”
His enthusiasm stood in stark contrast to the recent disappointment of not being offered a wild card for the US Open, where he is also a former champion.
Potential Milestone in Shanghai
Should Wawrinka take to the court in Shanghai, he is on track to create a significant milestone. He would be the third-oldest player ever to play in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, surpassing Feliciano Lopez’s age by 19 days. Only Jimmy Connors and Ivo Karlovic have competed at an older age, with Connors outpacing Wawrinka by just four days and Karlovic holding the record at 42 years and 218 days.
Wild Card Recipients
Besides Wawrinka, the other four wild card recipients for the Shanghai Masters are rising Chinese players: Juncheng Shang, Yibing Wu, Zhizhen Zhang, and Yi Zhou. Many of these local talents have faced injury challenges, making their wild card entries essential for participation in the event. Wawrinka stands out as the sole non-Chinese player among the wild card selections, further underscoring his continued significance in the tennis world despite the passing of years.
