Stan Wawrinka was agonisingly close to making history at the Open de Rennes, but just fell short of the mark.
Wawrinka was bidding to become the oldest champion in Challenger Tour history at the event, where he reached the final without dropping a set.
The Swiss star, aged 40 years and eight months, was ultimately beaten in the championship match by the first seed, Hugo Gaston, who denied him the chance to break Ivo Karlovic’s record.
It was a tough loss for the three-time Grand Slam champion, who gave an emotional reaction after the match.
Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images
Wawrinka suffered his second defeat in a Challenger Tour final this year, following his near miss in Aix-en-Provence in May.
“Emotionally, it was exceptional,” he said after his clash with Gaston, as reported by Ouest-France.
“I’m delighted I made the decision to come here. I’m trying to make the most of my career, but unfortunately, I’m getting older.
“It’s not good to be 40, but it’s always a thrill to be on the pitch thanks to the crowd, the emotions and the support they give me.
“It’s one of the reasons why I keep fighting. I thank them,” explained Wawrinka, whose last appearance at an ATP Tour-level event came in July.
Stan Wawrinka is nearing the end of his illustrious career
Though he has found some success at Challenger level, Wawrinka’s 2025 season has been another difficult one on the ATP Tour.
He has tallied a record of just two wins and 10 losses at tour-level events, and has crashed out in the first round of the two Grand Slams he has appeared at.
Wawrinka has struggled on the biggest stages for a number of years now, recording his best major finish in the last five seasons at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2023, where he reached the third round.
The former world number three is not getting any younger, and although he still has the ability to compete professionally, his time in tennis may be coming to an end very soon.