Stan Wawrinka is a Swiss tennis legend who has won three singles major titles and is known for one of the best one-handed backhands in the game. Born on March 28, 1985, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Wawrinka achieved his career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 3 in January 2014.
Wawrinka is also a Davis Cup champion (2014) and won the Olympic gold in doubles. He has won 16 singles titles and won over $36.8 million in prize money till date. He participated in his 70th Grand Slam at the 2024 French Open after winning against Andy Murray in straight sets.
Not just a tennis star, Wawrinka made waves by changing his first name to simply "Stan" in 2014. Nicknamed “Stan The Man,” his late-career success is hailed as extraordinary, especially his lethal backhand, as lauded by John McEnroe. A true tennis legend, Stan Wawrinka's story is one of determination and triumph on the court.
Stan Wawrinka Tattoo
Wawrinka has two tattoos. The first is the name of his daughter Alexia, which is inked on his right rib cage. Second is a tattoo on his left forearm, a phrase, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better,” words of the famous Irish novelist Samuel Blackett.
Wawrinka has had a lot of setbacks along the way. However, he has consistently been able to overcome those setbacks. That is the precise narrative of his forearm tattoo. At the highest level, professional athletes never have it easy.
Wawrinka explained in a 2014 interview with The Guardian: “It’s how I see life and tennis. The meaning of the quote doesn’t change, no matter how well you do. There is always disappointment, heartache. You are losing almost every tournament. You need to just accept it and be positive because you are going to lose and fail.”
Also Read: Has Stan Wawrinka ever been married?
Where is Stan Wawrinka from?
Stan Wawrinka was born in Switzerland to a Swiss mother, Isabelle, and a German father, Wolfram Wawrinka. He is a dual citizen of Germany and Switzerland. Wolfram is a German social worker and farmer with a Czech background.
Wawrinka's paternal great-grandfather was from Silesia—the border region between Poland and the former Czechoslovakia—and the surname stems from the Polish language. It has something to do with Laurentius, or Wawrzyniec, the Polish equivalent of Laurence.
The mother of Wawrinka, Isabelle, is a Swiss educator. His mother is a biodynamic farmer who helps disabled people, and she and her husband have taken over her in-law's land.
The land, called "Ferme du Château," is joined to Saint-Barthélemy's castle and is located close to Lausanne. The farm helps those with despair, drug and alcohol addiction, and mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.
Wawrinka grew up here with his two younger sisters, Djanaée and Naélla, who play tennis and are students, and his older brother, Jonathan. Wawrinka went to the Crissier Rudolf Steiner School.
FAQ's on Stan Wawrinka's Tattoo
A. Stan Wawrinka's forearm tattoo reads, "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
A. In 2014, Stanislas Wawrinka changed his first name to "Stan."
A. The tattoo reflects resilience and acceptance of setbacks in life and tennis. It's inspired by an Irish novelist's quote.
A. Stan Wawrinka was born in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 28, 1985.
A. Stan Wawrinka has two tattoos — one on his forearm with a motivational quote and one on his ribcage which reads Alexia, his daughter's name.