WATCH: Stan Wawrinka breaks down in tears as he falls just one victory short of ending 6-year long title drought at Croatian Open

Wawrinka lost to Australian Alexei Popyrin in the final of the Croatian Open in 3 sets.

WATCH: Stan Wawrinka breaks down in tears as he falls just one victory short of ending 6-year long title drought at Croatian Open

Stan Wawrinka (Credits: Twitter/@TennisTV)

Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka lost in the final of the recently concluded Croatian Open to Australian Alexei Popyrin. The loss is Stan’s fourth consecutive loss in ATP/Grand Slam finals, having last won a title back in 2017.

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Wawrinka, leaving him heartbroken and reduced to tears during his speech. Despite the disappointment, he mustered the strength to express his gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support throughout the tournament.

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In an emotional address to the crowd, Wawrinka said, “I know it’s so stupid to cry, but I love this sport so much. You make it really special. Amazing week. Hopefully, I can come back. Thank you for the support. Thank you for being here. Hopefully, I see you next year.”

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While Popyrin celebrated his significant win, he paid a heartfelt tribute to Wawrinka, acknowledging the Swiss star’s legendary status.  “It’s an unbelievable honor to play somebody like Stan in a final,” Popyrin shared. “I grew up watching him, Roger, Rafa, Novak play. To play him in a final and beat him in a final, words can’t describe how happy I am. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

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Wawrinka’s Croatian Open run at a glance

Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka (Credits: ATP tour)

Wawrinka entered the Croatian Open in good form, winning each match leading up to the final without dropping a set. His impressive form and passion on the Croatian clay court were reminiscent of his prime.

However, his journey came to an end in the final against Popyrin. Despite winning the first set in a tie-break, Wawrinka couldn’t maintain his level of play, ultimately falling short of capturing the title. This means that the Swiss’s title drought continues as he faces a 4th consecutive loss in an ATP / Slam final, which started with his Roland Garros loss to Rafael Nadal in 2017.

Aged 38, Wawrinka is surely in the twilight stage of his career. The Swiss has seen a resurgence in form lately and is keen to end his career on a high. It remains to be seen whether ‘Stan the Man’ will win a final title before hanging his racket.

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