Representing the foot in Metz: is Wawrinka now threatened with Federer’s fate?

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Every tennis fan cringed: Stan Wawrinka (38) accidentally twisted his ankle during his round of 16 match in Metz – all on his own match point. The Lausanne native tried to end the match, but losing the set, he gave up. The season is over.

Memories of Roland Garros 2022 immediately come to mind, when Alexander Zverev (26) injured his foot in the tiebreak of the second set in the semi-final against Rafael Nadal (37). The German’s screams went through his bones and he had to be brought into the cabin in a wheelchair. A few minutes later he staggered onto the field on sticks to say goodbye to the referee and the crowd. The diagnosis: multiple torn ligaments in the right foot. Six month break.

It is still unclear how seriously Wawrinka was injured as a result of his mistake. He wrote on Instagram on Friday about a photo series: “Tough end to the season.” What initially made you breathe a sigh of relief: unlike Zverev, he could put weight on his foot and walk unaided, even if he wasn’t completely flexible. However, if the three-time Grand Slam winner is seriously injured, the same fate awaits him as many other tennis professionals: retirement out of compulsion and not of his own free will.

Injury Witch has already hit two Swiss

The most prominent example of this is undoubtedly Roger Federer (42). The maestro announced the end of his career on September 15, 2022, after a months-long odyssey surrounding his right knee injury. The Basel resident has been struggling with problems since 2020 and had to undergo surgery three times. It did not heal completely, causing Federer to end his career.

The list of involuntary dismissals is much longer. Marco Chiudinelli (42), Switzerland’s number three behind Federer and Wawrinka for a long time, also suffered from persistent physical problems. The current SRF expert ended his career in 2017.

Is Wawrinka’s final goal in danger?

Other examples are Michael Stich (55), who retired in 1997 (chronic shoulder injury) or Tomas Berdych (38), who was plagued by hip problems and therefore retired at the end of 2019. And finally, the fans had to say goodbye to an absolute crowd favorite, Juan Martin Del Potro (35). A recurring wrist injury and knee problems hit the “Tower of Tandil” and that is why the Argentinian said “Adios” on the tennis podium in February 2022.

Stan Wawrinka, who like Del Potro is one of the most popular professionals on tour, hasn’t gotten that far yet. After his one-year hiatus due to bipedal surgery, the Lausanne native returned to the tour in June 2022. Since then, he has repeatedly emphasized that he would like to win one more tournament before retiring. Hopefully this goal is not in jeopardy now. In his Instagram post he is combative: “I will return.” (ch)

Source : Blick