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Stanislas Wawrinka has revealed this week that his on-off relationship with wife Ilham has ended.
The Swiss tennis ace announced that he was getting a divorce on his Facebook page, citing the challenges of his professional career as a contributing factor. He posted that they have enjoyed ten fulfilling years, with all the ups and downs that every couple experiences, but sometimes life is more challenging than one would hope.
Wawrinka posted that he and Ilham were both blessed to create a family when their wonderful daughter Alexia was born in 2010, adding that they have always tried to live their lives as a team and as a family, despite the challenges they have faced due to the demands of his career, News.com.au reported.
However, Wawrinka added that to his great regret this isn't possible anymore. He stated that Ilham would always be the mother of his daughter and a person that he has a lot of love and respect for, claiming that they would always remain as a family.
The Swiss insisted that now his priority is to do everything to protect Alexia during these challenging times.
It is the second time the world number 10, who climbed as high as three in the world after winning the 2014 Australian Open, has separated with Ilham, whom he married in 2009 but left the family home a year later to focus on his career.
Wawrinka had gotten back with the Swiss television presenter after the birth of their daughter in 2010.
Wawrinka's form has been patchy in recent weeks, including a one-sided defeat against Grigor Dimitrov at the Monte Carlo Masters where he was the defending champion.
In a statement released through her lawyer, Ilham took issue with the connection between their personal situation and Wawrinka's form on the court and blamed him for the separation. She stated that his instability and the wish to regain freedom in all areas are the reason for the split up.
Ilham admitted that the repeated lies and the breach of faith destroyed all the trust she had in Wawrinka.