"I will always give my best," assures Wawrinka

Stan Wawrinka posted a message on his social media after his defeat against Casper Ruud in Basel.

Wawrinka is still running. At 40 years old, the former world number 3 was competing this week at the ATP 500 tournament in Basel. After defeating Miomir Kecmanovic (6-1, 7-6) in the first round, the Swiss champion was eliminated in the round of 16 by Casper Ruud (6-4, 7-6).

After stating earlier in the week his intention to continue on the tour until 2026, the three-time Grand Slam winner posted a message for his most loyal supporters on social media.

"When I started playing tennis at the age of 8, it was just a game. Then it became my passion. My dream was to one day become a professional tennis player. I know that as an athlete, people like to think they know when it's time for you to stop.

People think that when you get older, when you no longer play at the same level, when you no longer have the same ranking or the same results, you should stop. Even though I am a competitor, even though I love winning, that's not always what matters.

Passion doesn't always lie in the results, but in pushing your limits. I no longer need to win a Grand Slam. I no longer need to be in the top 10. But I love the process of constantly pushing my limits.

I know my career will end one day, but until then, I will always give my best. To all the fans around the world who support me. To the fans present in Basel this week, thank you.

It means a lot to me. That's why I continue to push myself," wrote Wawrinka, who will therefore be on the tour next season, on his X account (formerly Twitter) in recent hours.