Stan Wawrinka’s last tour-level match on clay came with one final surge, one more one-handed backhand, and no comeback ending.
The 41-year-old Swiss player lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to Roman Andres Burruchaga in the first round of the Millennium Estoril Open on Tuesday, ending his clay-court run at the surface where much of his tennis identity was built.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, saved a third match point with a backhand down the line that briefly lifted the crowd and stretched the moment. Burruchaga held firm on the fourth chance and closed out the win after two hours and 28 minutes.
After the match, tournament director Joao Zilhao presented Wawrinka with a commemorative imprint marking his final appearance on the Estoril clay. The tournament is also the last clay-court event of Wawrinka’s career, with the Swiss player competing in his final season.
“I grew up on clay. I grew up practising on clay and watching clay-court tournaments, so clay was always special for me,” Wawrinka said.
His tour-level clay record stands at 202 wins and 124 defeats, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Burruchaga’s reward is a second-round meeting with Nuno Borges, Portugal’s No. 1, who opened his home tournament with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Brazilian qualifier Orlando Luz. Borges became only the second Portuguese man to win five matches in Estoril, joining Joao Sousa.
Elsewhere in Portugal, 2017 champion Pablo Carreno Busta beat Vilius Gaubas 6-1, 6-3 and will face Luca Van Assche next. Lucky losers Kyrian Jacquet and Timofey Skatov also moved into the second round.
For Wawrinka, the scoreline belonged to Burruchaga. The farewell belonged to the clay.
