Stan Wawrinka pinpoints the difference in play styles between his generation and the new era

Story byPhoto by Andy Cheung/Getty ImagesCameron GreenleesMon, January 12, 2026 at 2:30 AM UTC·2 min readStan Wawrinka is playing his last season on the ATP Tour in 2026, marking the end of an illustrious career. In an era dominated by the ‘big three’ of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Wawrinka claimed three Grand Slam titles and reached a career-high ranking of third in the world. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Swiss star kicked off his final campaign at the United Cup, where he guided his country to the final. Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty ImagesWawrinka and Switzerland were ultimately beaten by Poland in the championship tie, with the 40-year-old suffering a defeat to Hubert Hurkacz. Following the loss, he faced the media and touched on a key difference between his generation of tennis players and the new era. Stan Wawrinka compares generations of tennis playersWhen asked in his post-match press conference if his touch gives him an advantage over some of the younger players, Wawrinka responded: “No, I think that’s always been my game. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I’m trying to mix a lot, to be powerful from [the] baseline. Was not enough today.