Federer's emotional farewell to Wawrinka: "I love you, my friend"

Fernando Murciego - 28 Oct 2026 | 22:30
ATP Roger Federer stan wawrinka

After several hours of intense emotions on the central court of the Basel tournament, one person who did not want to stay away from Wawrinka's farewell was his good friend Roger Federer. Through a statement, the 20-time Grand Slam champion sent him some kind words after playing the last match of his career.

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Federer touches Wawrinka with a farewell message: "I love you, my friend." Source: Getty

Yesterday was a very special day at the ATP 500 in Basel. In a night filled with emotions and a high level of tennis, Stan Wawrinka hung up his racket, bringing an end to a memorable career. One who couldn’t be present was Roger Federer, his close friend and companion in adventures, though his message on social media to his partner was not missed.

"Dear Stan, I want to wholeheartedly congratulate you on your incredible career," began Federer in a message broadcast by Swiss television SRF Sport. "It's incredible everything you have achieved. It was wonderful to experience so many things together, whether it was the Davis Cup in Lille or the Olympic Games in Beijing. That victory was unbelievable. Thank you so much for it; it's something I will never forget, and I hope you won't forget it either," he recounted.

Federer recalls his history with Wawrinka and dedicates an unforgettable message

The relationship between the two had some of its most memorable chapters defending the colors of Switzerland. In 2008, Federer and Wawrinka won the Olympic gold medal in doubles in Beijing, one of the great successes of their joint career. Six years later, they made history again by decisively contributing to their country's first Davis Cup, clinched in Lille against France.

But their bond goes far beyond those trophies. Federer was also an important figure during Wawrinka's early years on the circuit, when the Lausanne native was still trying to make a name for himself among the best. Stan himself acknowledged in 2022 that his compatriot treated him like a big brother, helping him grow both on and off the court.

In his farewell, Federer also wanted to remember the effort behind Wawrinka's individual successes, including his three Grand Slam titles: the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open, and the 2016 US Open. Furthermore, he expressly congratulated his parents, his family, and his team for supporting the champion throughout his career. The most emotional moment came at the end when Federer switched to French to address his friend directly: "I think of you. I miss you. I love you, my friend. Enjoy the moment, and see you soon," he concluded.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La emotiva despedida de Federer a Wawrinka: "Te quiero, amigo mío"