Wawrinka: "I keep having fun... especially when I win"
The Swiss remains competitive at 40 years old and demonstrated it once again on Wednesday in Montpellier, debuting with a great victory against Medjedovic.
We are going to have a good time in this last professional season of Stan Wawrinka. At 40 years old, the Swiss player offered a great performance at the Australian Open, a performance he now seeks to prolong at the ATP 250 in Montpellier.
And well, for now, it seems that he is only receiving good news. This afternoon he was facing a very tough first round against Hamad Medjedovic, but something has changed in the mind of Stan Wawrinka compared to last season. Shall I show you with a fact? In just one month of 2026, he has already accumulated the same official wins as in all of 2025. His intention is clear: to hang up the racket with the utmost dignity possible, that is, within the top 100. Already with his feet in the quarterfinals of the draw, teammates from TennisTV talked with him.
“It is a pleasure to be here, facing players who belong to this new generation, although it is never easy the first time you face a player, especially in the case of Hamad, a really good opponent,” he valued after his fourth victory of the year. “I am happy with the level I have shown on the court, I remember coming here last year and losing in the first round, so I am glad to have had this new opportunity and to have done better,” recalled the Swiss, a professional since 2002.
Regarding the match, won in two sets (7-6, 6-4), Wawrinka analyzed how he was able to maintain his tennis level from the first to the last ball. “This is tennis, anything can happen until the last ball, so it is essential to stay focused until the end of the match, not lose concentration at any moment. I have tried to be aggressive at all times, especially on these very fast courts where the conditions invite it. I think this approach has helped me a lot to bring out my tactics,” highlighted the three-time Grand Slam champion.
“Of course, I am still having fun; when you win, it is even more fun,” emphasized Stan when the journalist asked him about his tremendous longevity within the circuit. “I love what I do, I have been dedicated to this for the past 20 years, I still find it incredible to go out there and compete, it is a real pleasure to still be here at this point. I will try to end the season with as many victories as possible,” concluded the current number 113 in the rankings.
Wawrinka faces the biggest challenge possible in Montpellier
A victory against Rinderknech in the United Cup. Triumphs over Dejere and Gea at the Australian Open. And now, in Montpellier, another great performance against Medjedovic. Is it enough to face his next test confidently? Felix Auger-Aliassime awaits him in the second round, the defending champion of the tournament, and one of the best players on the circuit under indoor conditions. The challenge is huge, but at this point, there is nothing that frightens the Swiss. On the contrary, it is pure motivation.
“He is a great player, a super-dangerous opponent; it's curious that we haven't faced each other in the past either. We saw him win the title here in 2025, so I hope he takes to the court with a lot of confidence. It will be a great challenge for me; I will try to find all the solutions in the match, give it my all until the end, and we will see what happens,” he concluded.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Wawrinka: “Me sigo divirtiendo… sobre todo cuando gano"