Wawrinka Defies Age With Marathon Australian Open Victory

Stan Wawrinka, the ever-determined Swiss veteran, delivered a performance for the ages on Thursday at Melbourne Park, outlasting 21-year-old French qualifier Arthur Gea in a marathon five-set battle to reach the third round of the 2026 Australian Open. At 40 years and 310 days old, Wawrinka became the oldest man to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since the legendary Ken Rosewall in 1978, etching his name once again into tennis history.

Wawrinka’s journey to this milestone was anything but easy. The match, played out on a sun-drenched Kia Arena, lasted an exhausting four hours and 33 minutes—the longest contest of the tournament so far. The final scoreline read 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(10-3), a testament to both players’ resilience and fighting spirit. Gea, 19 years Wawrinka’s junior, pushed his seasoned opponent to the brink, but it was the Swiss star’s mental fortitude and experience that ultimately made the difference.

After the match, a visibly drained but jubilant Wawrinka addressed the roaring crowd. “I’m exhausted,” he admitted, pausing to soak in the moment. “It’s my last Australian Open, so I’m trying to last as long as possible. Not only did I have fun, but also you (the fans) gave me so much energy. I’m not young anymore, so I need your energy, extra energy from you. It’s an amazing feeling to be on this court, to have so much noise, so much support. It was a long match. I don’t know how I’m going to recover, but I’m super happy.”

Wawrinka’s longevity in the sport has been nothing short of remarkable. Having announced before the tournament that he would retire at the end of the 2026 season, he received a late wild card to play in Melbourne. He certainly made the most of it, becoming the first player aged 40 or over to make the third round of a major since Rosewall’s run nearly five decades ago. This was also Wawrinka’s first time reaching the third round at the Australian Open since his quarter-final appearance in 2020, and it marked his 75th Grand Slam main draw—a staggering achievement in itself.

The match itself was a rollercoaster of momentum swings and emotional highs. Gea, playing in his first Grand Slam main draw, showed no signs of nerves early on. He claimed the opening set with aggressive baseline play and timely breaks, only for Wawrinka to claw back in the second, leveling the match with his trademark one-handed backhand winners and strategic serving. The Frenchman regained the upper hand in the third set, breaking Wawrinka at a critical juncture and consolidating the lead with impressive composure.

But Wawrinka, cheered on by a partisan crowd, refused to go quietly. The fourth set saw both men trading breaks, but it was the Swiss who edged ahead, forcing a decisive fifth set. In the final act, Wawrinka surged ahead 2-0, tapping his temple in a gesture of mental resolve as the Kia Arena faithful erupted. Gea, battling cramping and both knees heavily taped, somehow managed to erase the deficit and keep the contest alive. The tension reached its peak in the super tiebreak, where Wawrinka’s experience shone through. A 21-shot rally left Gea spent, and as the points stacked up, the 2014 Australian Open champion finally sealed victory when Gea’s weary forehand sailed long.

“I’m always going to leave everything on the court … always trying my best, trying to push myself. Thank you so much for being here,” Wawrinka told the crowd, his voice tinged with both gratitude and disbelief. With a smile, he added, “Maybe I’m going to pick up a beer. I deserve one!”

Wawrinka’s achievement was not the only headline on a day packed with drama at Melbourne Park. The combined day and night crowd set a new tournament record, with 103,720 fans passing through the gates—pushing the cumulative main draw attendance to 508,430. The electric atmosphere was a fitting backdrop for a day that also saw Novak Djokovic notch his 399th Grand Slam match win, putting the Serbian superstar just one victory away from a historic 400 at the majors. Jannik Sinner, too, continued his quest for an Australian Open three-peat with a convincing win over James Duckworth.

The day was not without its somber notes. Before the night session, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the 15 people killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack last month, a tragedy that cast a reflective mood over the festivities. Signs around Melbourne Park carried the message: “Light Will Win,” a reminder of resilience both on and off the court.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, upsets abounded. Stefanos Tsitsipas, last year’s runner-up, fell to Tomas Machac in four sets, while Marin Cilic ousted the 21st seed Denis Shapovalov. American Ben Shelton powered through to the third round, and Eliot Spizzirri outlasted Wu Yibing in a five-set thriller. The women’s draw saw defending champion Madison Keys mount a comeback to defeat Ashlyn Krueger, and Iga Swiatek continued her strong form, crediting Djokovic’s attitude as an inspiration for her own longevity in the sport.

For Wawrinka, the journey is far from over. His next opponent will be the formidable No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz, setting the stage for yet another stern test. But for now, the Swiss maestro can savor a victory that encapsulates everything fans love about tennis—grit, drama, and the unyielding pursuit of greatness, no matter the odds or the years gone by.

As the sun set on Kia Arena, Wawrinka’s farewell tour rolled on, his legacy burnished by a performance that will be remembered for years to come. Whether or not he adds another chapter to his storied career in Melbourne, one thing is certain: Stan Wawrinka is leaving it all on the court, and the tennis world is richer for it.