Wawrinka officially announces his retirement date; 25-year-old Chinese player banned for 12 years for manipulating 22 matches

As the new season approaches, almost all the news has been quite disheartening!

Previously regarded as very likely to emulate American legend Serena Williams by playing until 45 without retiring easily, Swiss star Wawrinka has finally officially announced his upcoming retirement.

Currently 40 years old, Wawrinka has often been asked about retirement. Even though he has now dropped to playing challenger events, whenever the media throws this popular yet irritating question at him, the Swiss star refuses to mention retirement and insists on continuing to fight.

One of the most interesting moments happened in October this year!

At that time, when pressured by this question, Wawrinka responded with a meaningful statement: “I really hope to keep competing next year, but ending a professional career is a very personal decision. Everyone should follow their own feelings. I just want to say that when the day I retire comes, you will naturally know.”

Furthermore, since Wawrinka emphasized back then that “winning challenger events is obviously more achievable than ATP Tour tournaments. Regardless, we always have personal goals; for me, it’s about unleashing my full potential,” many felt the Swiss star was preparing to follow American legend Serena Williams. Serena, at 45, remains highly passionate about tennis, and just when everyone thinks she will slowly fade away, she registers for next year’s Auckland event, making her intentions hard to predict.

It was expected that Wawrinka would imitate Serena, but surprisingly, his statement last year, “I really hope to keep competing next year,” had already foreshadowed his impending retirement; he had made up his mind long ago.

“Every book needs an ending; it’s time to write the final chapter of my professional tennis career. 2026 will be my last year on tour.” Wawrinka announced on his personal social media that the 2026 season will be his final professional year before officially retiring.

After announcing his retirement timeline, the Swiss star humorously described it as his “last stand.” Upon reflection, this phrase vividly reveals the hardships of continuing to compete at the age of 40, evoking deep emotions and even tears.

As a contemporary of Federer and Nadal, Wawrinka has long been called the fifth giant of that era. During the time Federer dominated the tennis world, Wawrinka managed to snatch three Grand Slam titles, which is truly legendary. His relentless spirit showed the world that no one is invincible forever; even against the Big Three, he still had a chance to win, which is very inspiring.

After news of Wawrinka’s upcoming retirement spread, those who once urged him to retire felt saddened, admitting that when the day truly arrives, they might feel like crying. His supporters expressed that their hearts felt shattered, “Even though Wawrinka can still play for one more year, he hasn’t announced an immediate departure.”

As the countdown to Wawrinka’s retirement brings sadness, another shocking piece of news related to a Chinese player has also emerged!

On the 20th, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that “Chinese player Pang Renlong has been banned for 12 years and fined $110,000.”

The ITIA’s punishment was due to Pang Renlong manipulating or attempting to manipulate 22 matches within just five months from May to September 2024, a very serious offense that warranted harsh penalties.

According to reports, during this period Pang participated in five singles matches in Anning, Luzhou, Jinan, Hong Kong, and Guiyang, losing all five. He admitted to the ITIA’s charges and also confessed to 17 corrupt contacts with other players, further manipulating six additional matches.

Pang Renlong, 25 years old and ranked 1316th in the world, likely understands the severity of his mistakes. He has waived his right to a hearing, and his suspension runs from November 7, 2024, to November 6, 2036.

Considering he is already 25 and now banned for 12 years, many fans and netizens bluntly say that Pang Renlong’s tennis career is effectively over before it truly began.

Moreover, another unfavorable fact for him is that if Pang wants to return after his suspension, he must pay the ITIA’s $110,000 fine in full; otherwise, he will disappear from the tennis world completely.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlight River’s Starry Sky)