Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka walked onto court at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, beat Benjamin Hassan 7–5, 6–3, and broke the previous benchmark belonged to Roger Federer. Federer happened to be sitting in the stands when it shifted.
There are tidier ways to pass a baton.
Here’s What Happened
Stan Wawrinka won his first-round match at the Dubai ATP 500 in Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2026.
Because he is 40 years old, that win made him the oldest player ever to win a main-draw match in Dubai tournament history.
That record had previously been held by Roger Federer.
Federer was physically in the stadium watching when Wawrinka broke his record.
Watch the match highlights:
Player Profile: Stan Wawrinka
Career Snapshot
- Grand Slam titles: 3
- Australian Open (2014)
- Roland Garros (2015)
- US Open (2016)
- Career-high ranking: World No. 3
- Olympic gold: Beijing 2008 (Doubles, with Roger Federer)
- Dubai champion: 2016
Stan Wawrinka is a ⭐ three-time Grand Slam champion ⭐ who built his reputation in the most demanding era men’s tennis has seen. At his peak, he reached world No. 3 and established himself as one of the few players capable of overpowering the dominant forces of his generation on the biggest stages.
His game has always been direct. Heavy forehand. One of the cleanest one-handed backhands on tour. Baseline positioning that invites long exchanges and then ends them abruptly. When his timing locks in, he dictates rallies against anyone.
Dubai is familiar territory. He lifted the title here in 2016, and he understands the pace and conditions of this court. That history gives context to what he is doing now.
In 2026, he is competing in what he has identified as his final season. That decision has not diluted his approach. He is still entering ATP 500 fields, still taking on seeded players, still speaking candidly about the level at the top of the sport. When he references players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz and calls their level “crazy high,” it comes from a player who has measured himself against multiple eras and understands exactly where the sport stands.
The Dubai age record he just set fits into that larger picture. It does not redefine his career. The majors already did that. What it shows is durability and competitive intent at a stage when most careers are already archived.
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