Wawrinka says the door will open eventually, even if the current guard looks unbeatable.
In his farewell season the 40-year-old used a final run at the Dubai tournament to take stock of the men’s tour, weigh up the Alcaraz-Sinner era, and offer a veteran’s prescription for players trying to break through.
Wawrinka’s Dubai exit and a parting perspective
Wawrinka’s run in Dubai ended against Daniil Medvedev, and he left the tournament reflective about his career while still playing competitive tennis during a well-publicized farewell season that will conclude at the end of 2026.
The match score itself underlined the challenge he still faces against today’s top names, with Medvedev prevailing 6-2, 6-3, and Wawrinka using the loss as a moment to thank organizers and supporters who have followed him for decades.
Across a career that spans three decades he forced his way through one of tennis’s toughest eras, famously beating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to win three major titles at the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros and the 2016 US Open.
Now he watches a new peak form between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, a pairing he describes as on another level, but he warned that level is not an impenetrable fortress and that chances will open for others.
I think for sure right now Jannik and Carlos are different level.
Stan Wawrinka
Beyond the blunt assessment, Wawrinka gave practical advice to hopefuls, urging players to concentrate on self-improvement — the physical work, the technique and the year-round consistency that create opportunities against top opponents.
His point was simple and strategic: you rarely play a top rival every match, so the focus should be on how you perform against the entire field across a season rather than on a singular marquee scalp.
The current landscape features two stars who have split headline matches and major finals, and Wawrinka noted the duo’s recent dominance while reminding readers that tennis cycles through moments where outsiders find cracks to exploit.
That dominance is measurable. Between them Alcaraz and Sinner have claimed nine straight Grand Slam titles, a run that has stretched the distance between the duo and the rest but has not made them unbeatable forever.
Wawrinka’s own history as a spoiler gives weight to his view. He managed to take crucial wins in an era governed by Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, and he believes strategic focus and steady improvement can yield similar upsets for rising players.
He has met Jannik Sinner multiple times, with early victories in 2019 followed by a shift in momentum; over the years Sinner has taken control, and Wawrinka has managed to win only two sets across six matches since those first meetings.
Curiously, Wawrinka has not faced Carlos Alcaraz on tour, and he admitted he hopes for one more shot at the Spaniard before his retirement, which would give a satisfying bookend to a varied and resilient career.
He also highlighted how the game itself has shifted with equipment and conditions altering play, saying matches and tournaments feel a bit different and that players who adapt to those nuances will find advantage.
Even while winding down, Wawrinka has shown he can still disrupt draws, climbing back into the top 100 with recent wins over Hamad Medjedovic and Aleksandar Vukic, which underlines that form and timing still matter a great deal.
For young contenders the prescription is clear: pack your calendar with improvement, cultivate match-to-match consistency, sharpen physical preparation and wait for the small but decisive chances the top players occasionally hand you.
In short, Wawrinka’s message is both realistic and encouraging; the present stars are extraordinary, but history and experience show that elite duopolies can be challenged when prepared players seize the moment.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
