Italian world number 49 Matteo Berrettini and Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka faced off in a highly anticipated first-round match at Wimbledon on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, highlighting Wawrinka's final campaign at the All England Club.
According to an analysis by Action Network, Wawrinka enters his final professional season ranked 110th globally after battling numerous physical setbacks, including a complex knee surgery that impacted his recent consistency.
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The 41-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion previously captured trophies at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open, leaving Wimbledon as the sole major title missing from his career.
Wawrinka previously struggled during a modest prior season where his best results occurred in smaller Challenger tournaments, specifically reaching the finals at events in Aix en Provence and Rennes.
The current season yielded a third-round appearance at the Australian Open for Wawrinka, followed by a first-round exit at Roland Garros against Jesper de Jong, where the Swiss hit 10 aces.
Wawrinka also recorded nine aces against Alex Michelsen on clay courts earlier this year, demonstrating that his powerful serve remains a formidable weapon despite his physical limitations.
Meanwhile, Berrettini entered the tournament following a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open, where physical exhaustion and injury forced his retirement during a match against fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi.
>>> Wawrinka Takes First Set Against Berrettini at Wimbledon
Before his retirement in Paris, Berrettini secured hard-fought victories over Arthur Rinderknech, Francisco Comesana, and Juan Manuel Cerundolo during a demanding week on clay surfaces.
