Few players have had careers as closely intertwined with the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad as Stan Wawrinka's. On the opening Sunday of this year's tournament, organisers paid tribute to the threetime Grand Slam champion with a special farewell celebration that looked back on more than two decades of memories and quietly reminded spectators that Swiss tennis is already nurturing its next generation.

Long before the event began, a queue stretched through the tournament village. Fans waited patiently for the chance to meet the 41-year-old, while others gathered in the shade around the stage, where Wawrinka would soon reflect on a career that had taken him from the clay courts of Gstaad to the pinnacle of world tennis.

For Wawrinka, Gstaad has always held a special place.

"It was the tournament I followed as a child," he told the audience. "I was fortunate enough to play here so many times." His connection with the tournament spans more than twenty years. He made his debut in Gstaad in 2003, reached the singles final two years later, and lifted the doubles trophy with Dominic Stricker in 2023. It was therefore fitting that Stricker joined him on stage, recalling how much he had learned from playing alongside one of Switzerland's greatest players. Although Wawrinka has announced that this season will be his final one on the ATP Tour, retirement is not yet on his mind. He continues to train with the same commitment that has defined his career.

"The most important thing is feeling I can still compete," he said ahead of his opening-round match against Portugal's Jaime Faria, expecting little to separate the two players in the fast conditions.

While Wawrinka looked back, another chapter in Swiss tennis was quietly unfolding just metres away. In the Roy Emerson Arena, 21-year-old Dylan Dietrich secured the biggest win of his young career, defeating Brazil's Thiago Monteiro in the final qualifying round and earning his first place in the main draw of the Swiss Open.

The timing could hardly have been more symbolic. One Swiss career is nearing its end just as another is gathering momentum. Dietrich will also contest the doubles draw with Dominic Stricker, who reflected on how quickly roles can change. "Two years ago, I had the opportunity to play with Stan," Stricker said. "Now I'm the one who can pass on some experience."

Asked what comes after professional tennis, Wawrinka preferred not to look too far ahead. "I want to close this chapter first."

After the interview, hundreds of supporters queued for autographs, photographs and a few brief words with the man who has represented Swiss tennis at the highest level for more than two decades. Not everyone reached the front of the queue, a testament to the affection still surrounding one of the country's most admired athletes.

The afternoon concluded with a performance by singer-songwriter Bastian Baker, whose friendship with Wawrinka dates back some fifteen years. Baker recalled postponing a flight during the French Open to stay and watch a match in which Wawrinka recovered from two sets down. "I missed my flight," he laughed, "but it was worth every minute."

For Wawrinka, the enduring message was not one of endings but of gratitude. Despite the relentless travel, sacrifice and discipline demanded by professional tennis, he would choose the same path again without hesitation.

"When I was young, I loved this sport. I'm 41 now, and I still do." It was a fitting conclusion to an afternoon that celebrated not only one of Switzerland's greatest tennis careers, but also the enduring bond between Stan Wawrinka and the tournament that first inspired him as a boy.

Based on AvS/Maxime Vögele | Edited by Jeanette Wichmann