A Private Tennis Lesson From Stan Wawrinka Inside The Waldorf Astoria Ballroom

The tennis matches concluded with Fernandez narrowly defeating Sakkari in a mini-tiebreak, 6-5, and Paul overcoming the powerful serve of Shelton, 6-2. Former professional Sam Querrey provided amusement as the chair umpire, while Andy Roddick, the last American man to win the US Open in 2003, served as a comedic host. The limited audience of around 400 fortunate tennis enthusiasts then moved to the ballroom for a lavish dessert spread, including a summer berry Eton mess, red velvet tartlet, and cheesecake trifle. However, with a 9 am appointment on the ballroom court the following morning, I had to depart to attempt some rest.

Given that it's not an everyday occurrence to be offered an hour-long private session with a tennis legend and three-time Grand Slam champion (including the US Open a decade ago), sleep did not come easily. Nevertheless, I returned to the Waldorf ballroom at 9 am to meet the renowned "Stanimal," also known as Stan the Man. These hour-long private clinics are part of the special offerings from the Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club.

Stan had already experienced a significant week. On Monday, when the US Open wild cards were announced, he was surprisingly omitted. Wild cards are discretionary entries granted by tournament directors to players who may have lower rankings due to factors like a reduced schedule, injury, or other reasons, allowing them to compete in the main draw. Although Stan is nearing the end of his illustrious career and plans to retire at season's end, he viewed this year's Open as a potential opportunity for an emotional farewell to the city he had grown to love even before winning the tournament in 2016.

The tennis community reacted with outrage. Following an injury withdrawal from another wild-card recipient, Stan was ultimately granted a wild card, restoring order. However, he had already returned to his home in Switzerland immediately after the initial wild-card announcement on Monday evening and had only arrived back the night before our meeting at the Waldorf.

It's safe to say he was prepared to play. For an amateur, or indeed for most amateurs, playing with a professional is both a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a daunting challenge. One earnestly hopes their game is at least competent enough to avoid bringing shame upon their family name. My own experiences have varied, from deeply embarrassing (hitting balls off the frame of my racquet with Andre Agassi on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium) to mediocre (with Andy Roddick on the same court a few years prior). At other times, it's not the overall play that remains memorable, but a singular shot – whether lucky or skillful, as when Garbine Muguruza hit a forehand directly at me during a doubles game on an indoor court in midtown, and despite the inherent fear, I deftly deflected it for a game-winning drop shot.