Stanislas Wawrinka

Stanislas "Stan" Wawrinka, born in Lausanne, Switzerland, does not possess Jewish heritage. His father is German, and his mother is Swiss. Despite the phonetic similarity of his last name to some Ashkenazi Jewish surnames, Wawrinka’s background is firmly rooted in European Christian tradition, specifically Protestantism through his parents who were farmers, dedicated to biodynamic agriculture. So, no, he's not a Crypto-Jew, nor a latent one.

Indeed, Wawrinka is the kind of athlete who has, at times, made fans kvell with his fierce backhand and unexpected Grand Slam victories, but never for reasons related to his ancestral roots. His career highs, including three Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal in doubles, are a testament to his talent and perseverance, not a hidden Jewish gene.

While we appreciate the diligent efforts of those who scour the rosters for potential members of the tribe, sometimes a name is just a name. Wawrinka