With Federer in Attendance, Wawrinka Makes Dubai History

The swan song season of Stan Wawrinka continues to be one of signifant milestones for the three-time major champion and certain Hall of Famer.

Today in Dubai, Wawrinka had his good friend Roger Federer watching on as he knocked the Swiss off a page of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships record books.

Wawrinka, the 2015 champion in Dubai, defeated Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan, 7-5 6-3, to become the oldest man to ever win a main draw match in Dubai, surpassing Federer on the list by three years. The 20-time major champion was 37 when he last played Dubai, and he won the title that year.

“It was tough at the beginning to really find my game, but I served well and I was really focused and really positive with my game,” Wawrinka said.

Wawrinka also broke the record for most ATP-level wins after turning 40 (after 1990), with his 10th.

Wawrinka, ranked No.99, fired nine aces and saved all three break points he faced in the contest.

The Swiss legend is now 6-7 on the season.

“I’m enjoying, I’m pushing myself every day to be able to reach that level, still at 40,” Wawrinka said. “It’s amazing to still have these moments, this year the beginning of the year was great, in Australia I had amazing moments, and to keep going, in Montpellier, Rotterdam and now here. I’m enjoying one last time, one last push.”