Fire & Frustration Burn Deeper with Age

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, April 7, 2025
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson

Stan Wawrinka was playing for rivalry reunion.

Alejandro Tabilo crashed the party to deny a meeting of major champions.

Filipina Fighter: Eala Shocks Keys in Miami

The left-handed Tabilo topped 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a frenetic Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters opener today.

Wild card Wawrinka was playing to set up a second-round showdown vs. Grand Slam king in what would have been a rematch of their classic 2015 Roland Garros final, which saw the Swiss stun the Serbian superstar.

After his 15th Monte-Carlo appearance, Wawrinka said his fire to compete burns brightly, but so too does the frustration after “tough, tough” defeats like this one.

”Passion of the sport [keeps me going],” Wawrinka told the media in Monte-Carlo. “You know that as an athlete, when you stop there is no comeback possible, especially when you get older. I want to enjoy as much as possible.

“I love playing tennis. Playing tennis, it’s a game that I really enjoy. Had the chance to play all the best tournaments in the world. I want to keep pushing a little bit.

“I enjoy the process. I enjoy the practice. I enjoy playing those big tournaments like here, like today, those big match, and that’s what keeps me going a little bit.”

Still, knowing the career clock is ticking makes today’s defeat sting a little bit more.

“Frustration increases with years because you know you are getting close to the end and you will have less opportunities of going further in the tournaments if you lose,” Wawrinka said. “So it’s more frustrating.”

At a time when many of his former rivals have moved on to coaching, commentary or entrepreneurial careers, Wawrinka said his goal is simple: “I want to play the best tournaments, to play the best players. That’s all.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion has been around so long he runs into former opponents now coaching current opponents. Former world No. 1 Marat Safin is back in Monte-Carlo this week working with Andrey Rublev and Wawrinka said he looks forward to saying hello.

“He was a great champion, a major player,” Wawrinka said of Safin. “I was lucky to be able to play against him. I think it’s good for tennis that he’s back. He’s an important character in tennis.”

Tabilo moves on to face part-time Monte-Carlo resident Djokovic in a rematch of their Rome showdown last May.

World No. 32 Tabilo stunned Djokovic 6-2, 6-3 in one of the most surprising setbacks of Djokovic’s Rome career.

“It’s incredible,” Tabilo said after the victory, his first against any player inside the Top 10, let alone a World No.1 with 24 major titles to his name. “I’m still trying to process everything.

“I was just trying to keep my nerves in – it’s crazy, I can’t believe what just happened.”

With his win Tabilo became the first man from Chile to defeat a World No.1 since 2007, when Fernando Gonzalez defeated Roger Federer at the season ending Masters Cup.