Stan Wawrinka reacts to Holger Rune's provocation, says Dane is creating a reputation in locker room that he will regret one day

Stan Wawrinka has indirectly tried to alert rising tennis star Holger Rune after a recent controversy at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open.

Wawrinka and Rune have been at loggerheads since last year. The first tour-level meeting between the two players came at the 2022 Paris Masters in November. Eventual champion Rune defeated the three-time Grand Slam winner 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3) in the opening round.

As the players shook hands at the net, Wawrinka told the Danish youngster to "stop acting like a baby" on the court.

The 37-year-old avenged his loss in the third round at Indian Wells earlier this week, beating Rune 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5. When the players approached the net after the match, it was the 19-year-old who reminded Wawrinka of what happened in Paris.

Rune: You’ve got nothing to say now?

Wawrinka: What do you want me to say?

In an interview after the match, Wawrinka called Rune a "great champion" but also warned him of the regrettable reputation that he was making for himself in the locker room.

"There's not much to say there. The only thing I can add is that he is a young player, a very great champion already with enormous potential. But he is creating a reputation in the locker room that he will regret one day," he said.

The former World No. 3 also recalled their clash in Paris and stated that Rune had evolved a lot since winning his first Masters tournament.

"We played in Bercy, I had a match point, he played well and beat me before winning the tournament," he added. "Since then, he has evolved a lot. It's just that if I feel better, I can feel it in front of me. The opponents feel it, it makes them doubt more. He is in a special period. Between what he does, what he wants to do, and where he is now, he's obviously looking for himself a bit."

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"I'm enjoying every moment because I know it's almost over" - Stan Wawrinka

Stan Wawrinka during the BNP Paribas Open

Stan Wawrinka, who is going to turn 38 years old in a few days, has admitted that he realizes he is not going to continue playing professional tennis for a long time.

"I'm off to be 38 soon. It doesn't surprise me because I've always wanted to push my limits," he said. "And of course, I'm very happy at my age to be able to compete with a 19-year-old Top 10 player over three sets. But I am lucid. There are ups and downs. It's not just going to go up like that forever, I know that very well."

"I'm having fun and I'm very keen," he added. "As long as there is this will to love what I do, to see that I am competitive with the best, I am fine. There were some great moments with the public in Basel last year and I'm enjoying every moment because I know it's almost over."

The Swiss star lost 6-1, 6-4 to Jannik Sinner in the fourth round of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.