In January of 2014, Stan Wawrinka burst onto the tennis scene with a victory over Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.
Wawrinka could be forgiven for thinking that seems like a lifetime ago.
Tennis.com reported that Wawrinka announced that he is separating from his wife, Ilham. The couple has one daughter, Alexia.
"We have enjoyed 10 fulfilling years, with all the ups and downs that every couple experiences, but sometimes life is more challenging than one would hope," he said in a statement. "Ilham and I were both blessed to create a family when our wonderful daughter Alexia was born in 2010. We have always tried to live our lives as a team and as a family, despite the challenges we have faced due to the demands of my career. To my great regret this isn't possible anymore."
According to tennis.com, Wawrinka married Ilham in 2009. The couple separated once but reunited.
The Guardian surmised the split may have had something to do with his third-round shellacking at the hands of Grigor Dimitrov at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, 6-1, 6-2.
"Stanislas Wawrinka has split with his wife Ilham for the second time, (an) explanation in part, perhaps, for his lackluster performance in failing to defend his Monte Carlo Masters title this week," the Guardian reported.
"Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, will slip out of the top 10 for the first time since May, 2010, after losing in two quick sets to Grigor Dimitrov in the third round."
Tennis.com added that Wawrinka has not advanced past the quarterfinals of any tournament since the 2014 Australian Open win.
"Ilham will always be the mother of my daughter and a person that I have a lot of love and respect for. We will always remain as a family. Now my priority is to do everything to protect Alexia during these challenging times," he said in his statement.
"I hope that the fans and the media will understand that I've always been very protective of my private life."
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