Stan Wawrinka Apologizes to Roger Federer After ‘A**hole’ Comment Resurfaces

Stan Wawrinka, who will join Roger Federer in the retirement list, held a 3-23 head-to-head record against the Swiss maestro.

Stan Wawrinka Apologizes to Roger Federer After ‘A**hole’ Comment Resurfaces

Stan Wawrinka, Roger Federer (Image via X/ESPN, The Tennis Letter)

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Stan Wawrinka gave a hilarious speech after losing to Roger Federer in the final of the 2017 Indian Wells. The former recently announced that he will retire after the 2024 season.

Federer called time on his career at the 2022 Laver Cup after playing doubles with his former rival Rafael Nadal. After the 2026 season, Wawrinka will join the Swiss maestro in the retirement list and will mark an end to his long 26-year career.

To pay tribute to the 40-year-old, Indian Wells reposted a clip from the trophy presentation. After that match, Wawrinka had playfully called the 20-time Grand Slam champion an “a**hole” during the trophy presentation.

I would like to congratulate Roger. He’s laughing, he’s an a**hole, but it’s okay.

Stan Wawrinka said

Federer won that match in straight sets. Wawrinka reshared Indian Wells’ message on his Instagram story and apologized to Federer, writing, “MY BAD”. Wawrinka met Federer 26 times, winning on just three occasions.

Stan Wawrinka's Instagram story
Stan Wawrinka’s Instagram story

The former World No.3 is a 16-time singles titlist, three of these titles being the Grand Slam ones. He lifted the 2014 Australian Open by defeating Nadal, before beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the 2015 French Open final. Then at the US Open the following year, he went past Nole in the final.

Casper Ruud on making a wrong prediction after Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s retirements

Just like many from the tennis world, Casper Ruud also thought that the end of the Big 3 era would see new Grand Slam champions. After Roger Federer‘s retirement, Rafael Nadal followed suit at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals following Spain’s 2-0 defeat to eventual champions Netherlands.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Jannik Sinner HQ)

Novak Djokovic is still a part of the tour and is planning to play till the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He last won a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open by defeating Daniil Medvedev, and since then, only two players have dominated on the tour: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

I said a few years back when Roger was the first to retire, and Rafa then came after. I said that I was expecting there to be a little bit more Grand Slam champions than there has been for the 15-20 years when they were ruling. But it really hasn’t because [Jannik] Sinner or [Carlos] Alcaraz have won pretty much everything since those guys started to step down. I still believe over the next five to 10 years we will see more Slam champions, and I think there will be more guys that will challenge them.

Casper Ruud said on Greg Rusedski’s Off Court with Greg podcast

Alcaraz and Sinner split the last six Majors, also winning a combined 26 titles from 35 finals since 2024. The Norwegian ace met the four-time Grand Slam champion four times, losing all.

Against Alcaraz, the three-time Grand Slam finalist trails 1-5 in the head-to-head matchups. While Alcaraz and Sinner lifted eight and six titles, respectively, Ruud reached three finals, winning the Madrid Open and the Stockholm Open by defeating Jack Draper and Ugo Humbert, respectively. In the Dallas Open final, Ruud lost to Denis Shapovalov.

Of course, I hope to be one of them. I am doing my best in practice and in my career to do so. But it’s really tough. They have kind of taken the game to a new level. But they are also human, just like everyone else. They have been the ones to take over the throne of the Big Three.

Casper Ruud added

Ruud failed to go beyond the second round of Grand Slam events this year. He also skipped Wimbledon because of an injury.

Sinner played every Grand Slam final this year, winning at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz took home the French Open and the US Open by defeating the 24-year-old.

Also read: Casper Ruud Explains Why Aryna Sabalenka-Nick Kyrgios Battle of the Sexes is ‘Not Serious’