Wawrinka had been a player whose career was ticking along steadily, rather than spectacularly, until he lifted one of the sport's biggest prizes at the age of 28. Wawrinka, his family, and his team were dabbing their eyes once the reality of an honourable 7-5 7-6 (7-2) defeat dawned.
Whether through technique or toil, Stan Wawrinka has always been able to whip fans into a frenzy.
Wawrinka was good enough to win majors, but he wasn't as consistently good as his illustrious rivals.
Wawrinka recognises he was"really far"from creating a 'Big Five' - and the evidence underlines that.
The ability to stir the emotions of a crowd never left him - even in what proved to be the final tour-level match of the 41-year-old Swiss star's glorious career.
"All I wanted in my career was to give everything, have no regrets, to always fight, to always give 100% in every match - out of respect for myself, the opponent, the tournament, the fans, for everybody,"Wawrinka told the ATP website., external"That was always the most important thing for more than 20 years, and the only way you can leave the sport - without any regrets."Wawrinka is loved by millions of fans because he is relatable - an everyman personality who reached the pinnacle of his sport by pushing himself to the limit.