Berrettini edges past Wawrinka in 4-hour Wimbledon epic to end a legend's farewell
Synopsis
Four tie-breaks, four hours and 19 minutes, and one of the longest tie-breaks in Wimbledon history at 18-16 — Berrettini's win over Wawrinka was more than a first-round result. It was the final chapter of a 41-year-old legend's last Wimbledon, delivered with the grace and fight that defined his entire career.
Key Takeaways
Matteo Berrettini defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-7(7), 7-6(16), 7-6(7), 7-6(5) in 4 hours 19 minutes at Wimbledon on 1 July .
Wawrinka , aged 41 years and 106 days , was the oldest player in the draw and played his 19th and final Wimbledon .
The second-set tie-break lasted 18-16 — one of the longest in recent Wimbledon memory.
Berrettini won 86% of first-serve points and converted the match's decisive fourth break point .
Berrettini next faces 22-year-old Arthur Fils in the second round.
Wawrinka holds 3 Grand Slam titles : Australian Open 2014 , Roland-Garros 2015 , and US Open 2016 .
Matteo Berrettini delivered a gripping 4-hour, 19-minute performance on 1 July at Wimbledon's No. 1 Court to edge out Stan Wawrinka 6-7(7), 7-6(16), 7-6(7), 7-6(5), bringing the curtain down on the Swiss legend's final Wimbledon appearance. The result ended a 19th and last Wimbledon campaign for Wawrinka, who is retiring at the close of the season.
A Farewell Fit for a Champion
At 41 years and 106 days, Stan Wawrinka was the oldest player in the draw — and he made every minute count. The three-time Grand Slam champion, who claimed the Australian Open in 2014, Roland-Garros in 2015, and the US Open in 2016 during an era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, gave the crowd at No. 1 Court a performance to remember.
'Tonight, again was a great fight,' an emotional Wawrinka said after the match. 'It's never easy to say goodbye to something that you love so much. I've always been passionate about the game, always enjoyed that. I'm grateful, and I would like to thank everybody because I had the chance, this opportunity to play one last time here. I couldn't have dreamed of a better goodbye.'
He added: 'I don't want to retire but I know it's time for me to stop. One of the reasons why I kept playing for so long is to enjoy those moments like tonight. It's so much emotion. I'm so grateful to have this opportunity, to have received the wild card to have the chance to play one last time Wimbledon.'
How the Match Unfolded
All four sets were decided by tie-breaks in an extraordinary contest of attrition. The first set went to Wawrinka 9-7 in the tie-break; the second, a marathon, went to Berrettini 18-16 — one of the longest tie-breaks in recent Wimbledon memory. The third set tie-break also went to the Italian 9-7, aided by a Wawrinka double fault, after which the roof was closed over No. 1 Court.
Notably, across two-and-a-half sets, Wawrinka had not earned a single break point. It was only the fourth break point of the entire match — converted by Berrettini in the fourth set — that shifted the momentum decisively. The final tie-break was closed out 7-5 by the Italian, sealing the result after four hours and 19 minutes.
Berrettini's Tribute and Performance
Matteo Berrettini, competing at Wimbledon for the first time since his resurgent run to the Roland-Garros quarter-finals, won 86 per cent of first-serve points against Wawrinka. The 30-year-old Italian was effusive in his admiration for his opponent after the match.
'He's a legend and he showed it... Unbelievable player, unbelievable competitor. I remember in 2014, I was playing the juniors here and I snuck into Centre Court, he was playing against Roger Federer. It was a big honour to play against him here, on Court 1. I feel so honoured, so grateful,' Berrettini said.
What's Next
With the win, Berrettini moves to 1-0 in his ATP Head-to-Head record against Wawrinka and sets up a second-round clash against 22-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils. Meanwhile, Wawrinka's retirement tour continues as he bids farewell to the other tournaments and venues he has loved throughout a storied career.
Point of View
Fitter Berrettini encapsulated everything about his career: stubborn, brilliant, and relentlessly competitive to the last point. What the scoreline cannot capture is the weight of a 19-Wimbledon career ending on a double fault at 41. Berrettini, to his credit, understood the moment — his tribute was genuine. The real story here is not the Italian's second-round place, but what tennis loses when Wawrinka finally walks away: one of the last true serve-and-forehand warriors of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Berrettini vs Wawrinka Wimbledon match?
Matteo Berrettini defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-7(7), 7-6(16), 7-6(7), 7-6(5) in the first round of Wimbledon on 1 July. All four sets were decided by tie-breaks in a match lasting 4 hours and 19 minutes.
Is Stan Wawrinka retiring from tennis?
Yes, Stan Wawrinka has confirmed he is retiring at the end of the current season. His exit at Wimbledon marked his 19th and final appearance at the tournament, where he received a wild card to compete one last time.
How many Grand Slam titles did Stan Wawrinka win?
Stan Wawrinka won three Grand Slam titles: the Australian Open in 2014, Roland-Garros in 2015, and the US Open in 2016. He achieved all three during the era dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Who does Berrettini play next at Wimbledon?
Berrettini faces 22-year-old French player Arthur Fils in the second round of Wimbledon following his first-round win over Wawrinka.
What made the Berrettini-Wawrinka match so unusual?
All four sets were decided by tie-breaks, including a second-set tie-break that stretched to 18-16 — one of the longest in recent Wimbledon history. There were only four break points in the entire match, and Wawrinka did not earn a single break point until late in the contest.
