India, Sept. 1 -- "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

It is a quote from a Samuel Beckett novella, Worstward Ho, that Stan Wawrinka had tattooed on his left arm in 2013. And it is perhaps the perfect way to sum up the career of the three-time Grand Slam champion, as he prepares to hang up his racquet at the end of the season.

On Monday night, 10 years after he triumphed at the US Open, the 41-year-old Swiss played his last Grand Slam match, losing 6-7(4), 6-7(3), 0-6 to Matteo Berrettini.

There was some celebration at the end of the match with Wawrinka being honoured with a video montage and a specially made photo collection. And just days ago, it seemed Wawrinka would not be allowed to play in New...