40-year-old Wawrinka holds off teenage Boogaard in second-largest age gap in ATP history
Stan Wawrinka won against Thijs Boogaard 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday and will play Australian Alex De Minaur, the top seed, in the next round
Thijs Boogaard, Rotterdam 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
The ABN AMRO Open witnessed a remarkable clash of generations on Wednesday morning as three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka utilized his veteran poise to defeat 17-year-old Dutch prospect Thijs Boogaard 6-3, 6-4.
At 40 years old, Wawrinka entered the court facing an opponent 23 years his junior, marking a rare encounter between a living legend and a player whose professional journey is just beginning.
Muster – Thiem 2011
At 23 years and 99 days, the age gap between Stan Wawrinka and his opponent on Wednesday, Thijs Boogaard, represents one of the most significant generational clashes in modern tennis history. Since the creation of the ATP Tour in 1990, only one singles match has featured a larger age difference: the 2011 meeting between Thomas Muster and Dominic Thiem, which saw a staggering gap of 25 years and 337 days, based on social account Jet Set Maths, the finest about tennis stats.
The Rotterdam match now sits second on that historic list, surpassing other notable veteran-versus-prodigy encounters such as Dick Norman against Daniel Berta (21 years, 270 days), Feliciano Lopez against Carlos Alcaraz (21 years, 227 days), and Ivo Karlovic against Felix Auger-Aliassime (21 years, 161 days).
The story of Thijs Boogaard reaching the main draw is a testament to the “Lucky Loser” spirit. The young Dutchman is an atendee of the Mouratoglou Academy, where he trains as part of the prestigious Champ’seed Foundation – a program founded by Patrick Mouratoglou to support the world’s most promising junior talents.
Wawrinka’s efficiency
Boogaard’s journey through the Rotterdam qualifying rounds was a rollercoaster: he reached the final round after saving a match point in a gritty comeback victory over Kimmer Coppejans. In his final qualifying match against Hugo Grenier, the roles were cruelly reversed as Boogaard held a match point of his own before eventually falling 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Despite that heartbreak, a late withdrawal by Aleksandar Vukic granted him a dream debut on home soil against a former world No. 3.
The match itself was a masterclass in efficiency from Wawrinka. Despite Boogaard’s impressive ball-striking and defensive coverage – qualities that helped him win the Les Petits As title in 2022 and the latest Orange Bown Jr. – “Stan the Man” remained unfazed.
Wawrinka’s clinical nature was evident as he secured exactly one break of serve per set. The defining moment came at 5-4 in the second set, where Wawrinka leaned on his signature experience to break Boogaard’s resistance and seal the victory. While the 17-year-old showed he belonged on the big stage, Wawrinka’s composure proved that in high-pressure moments, seasoned experience clearly prevails.
Wawrinka now advances to the second round, while Boogaard leaves with the invaluable experience of pushing a tennis icon to the limit in front of his home crowd.
Rotterdam first round
A. de Minaur (1) – A. Fils: 7-6[3], 6-2
S. Wawrinka (WC) – T. Boogaard (LL): 6-3, 6-4
B. van de Zandschulp – L. Pavlovic (Q): 7-6[3], 6-3
S. Tsitsipas – A. Rinderknech (8): Today
U. Humbert – D. Medvedev (4): 7-6[4], 3-6, 6-3
G. Den Ouden (WC) – M. Fucsovics: 7-6[5], 6-1
C. O’Connell (Q) – V. Royer: 6-4, 4-6, 7-6[4]
C. Norrie (6) – R. Bautista Agut: 7-6[3], 6-1
K. Khachanov (5) – J. de Jong: Today
J. Munar – N. Budkov Kjaer (WC): 6-1, 6-3
J. Struff – H. Grenier (Q): 6-0, 6-4
H. Hurkacz – A. Bublik (3): Today
T. Griekspoor (7) – C. Mpetshi Perricard: 6-4, 6-4
D. Halys – M. Rottgering (Q): 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
H. Medjedovic (LL) – Z. Bergs: 7-6[5], 7-6[6]
A. Popyrin – F. Auger-Aliassime (2): Today
