As Stan Wawrinka embarked on his farewell tour after 24 years on the court, he offered candid thoughts about what comes next after retiring as three-time Grand Slam Champion at Estoril Open and answering queries regarding coaching roles – whether direct or indirectly. He provided candid responses when queried regarding future prospects in coaching – such as what are expected as future obligations of life after tennis.
Wawrinka made clear his desire not to coach in the near future: “That isn’t something I plan on doing; traveling too much would not suit my personal situation, as well. For now though, we shall see.” The demanding travel schedule involved with professional tennis can pose considerable difficulties both to its participants and coaches alike; therefore it makes sense for Wawrinka to prefer less travel to maximize relaxation post-tennis life.
In today’s tennis world, coaches often take selective breaks from the grueling tour calendar and may not attend every event with their players. Many current players hire former top competitors as mentors who offer valuable technical insight and understand the mindset of a champion. These mentors typically do not travel to all tournaments, choosing instead to support their players on a more flexible basis.
While Wawrinka ruled out immediate coaching plans, he left open the possibility of exploring such opportunities several years after retirement. Should he decide to enter coaching, he can look to examples like Andy Murray, who took up coaching roles following his own playing career. Murray’s recent work, which includes a notable collaboration with Novak Djokovic’s team and his ongoing coaching of Jack Draper, illustrates how retired players can balance coaching responsibilities with flexibility.
Reflecting on his time at the Estoril Open brought a sense of nostalgia for Wawrinka. He fondly recalled the success he experienced at this very event over a decade ago.
Wawrinka’s Return to Estoril After 13 Years
Wawrinka first competed at the Estoril Open in 2013, making an impressive run to the final as the second seed, where he faced top-seeded David Ferrer. Now in 2026, he shared his feelings about returning to the tournament during his final season after 13 years.
“I’m happy to be back in Portugal. I came here a few years ago, and I have amazing memories, especially winning the title here,” Wawrinka said. “I’m very happy and pleased to be able to play here one last time this year.” Ranked outside the Top 100 at present, Wawrinka has relied on wildcards to gain direct entry into tournaments throughout the year. Although deep runs have eluded him so far, he continues to display flashes of his trademark one-handed backhand and competes strongly in his matches.
Wawrinka made his best showing this year at the Australian Open where he advanced to the third round. In a remarkable second-round match against much younger opponent he came back from two sets down and won four and half hours long match against much older one! Unfortunately his journey ended against Taylor Fritz who defeated him four sets to one, however his competitive spirit remains evident to this day!
At this stage in his career, results no longer hold as much importance for Wawrinka than they once did – evidenced by him receiving overwhelming applause at his home tournament in Gstaad despite an early exit despite receiving overwhelming applause at home tournament. The former World No. 3 is confident of turning in impressive performances at remaining events like Estoril Open and Basel later in 2017.