Wawrinka Makes History With Five-Set Australian Open Epic

Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss tennis icon and three-time Grand Slam champion, delivered a performance for the ages at the 2026 Australian Open, grinding out a dramatic five-set victory over French qualifier Arthur Gea in what many are calling one of the tournament’s most memorable matches. At 40 years old and in the twilight of his illustrious career, Wawrinka’s 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-3) win after four hours and 33 minutes on Kia Arena not only etched his name deeper into the record books but also sent a clear message: the old guard still has some magic left.

From the outset, the match was a rollercoaster. Gea, just 21 and making his Australian Open main draw debut, showed nerves of steel, snatching the first set and pushing Wawrinka to the brink with his fearless baseline play. But if there’s one thing tennis fans know about Wawrinka, it’s that he never goes quietly. Each set was a tug-of-war, with neither player willing to blink first. The crowd, sensing the gravity of the occasion, roared their support for the Swiss veteran, whose knees were heavily strapped and whose energy reserves seemed to dwindle as the contest wore on.

Yet, as the Melbourne sun dipped and the pressure mounted, Wawrinka summoned the resilience that has defined his career. After dropping the third set, he clawed back in the fourth, forcing a decider with a signature one-handed backhand winner that brought the Kia Arena faithful to their feet. The fifth set was a battle of attrition. Both men had their chances, but neither could pull away. Gea, battling cramps and even a broken shoe, refused to yield. It all came down to a tense match tiebreak, where Wawrinka’s experience shone through. A 21-shot rally, a deft lob from the baseline, and a series of errors from a physically spent Gea finally tipped the balance in favor of the Swiss.

With this win, Wawrinka became the first man aged 40 or older to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall did it at the 1978 Australian Open at age 44. As if that weren’t enough, this was Wawrinka’s 49th five-set match at a Grand Slam, breaking the Open Era record previously held by Roger Federer. According to Opta, he now holds the most five-setters in Grand Slam history, a testament to his fighting spirit and longevity.

“I’m exhausted!” Wawrinka exclaimed to the crowd in his post-match interview, drawing laughter and applause. “As I told you, it’s my last Australian Open, so I’m trying to last as long as possible. Not only I have fun, but also you gave me so much energy. I’m not young anymore, so I need your energy. It’s an amazing feeling to be on this court, to have so much noise, so much support. I mean, I don’t know how I’m gonna recover, but I’m super happy.” He added with a grin, referencing a spilled drink from the stands, “No idea [how I’ll recover], but I think at the beginning you dropped a beer, so maybe I’m gonna pick up a beer, I deserve one.”

Arthur Gea, for his part, showed maturity beyond his years. “It was an incredible experience,” he said. “I will take time to analyze everything. But yeah, it was cool.” Gea’s debut may have ended in defeat, but his grit and composure against a legend will surely serve him well in the future.

Wawrinka’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of remarkable. Once ranked as high as world No. 3, he entered the 2026 Australian Open as a wildcard, his ranking having slipped to 139th. Knee surgeries in 2017 and a string of injuries threatened to derail his career, but Wawrinka’s love for the game and relentless drive kept him coming back. He announced in December 2025 that this season would be his last, promising “one last push” before hanging up his racquet.

His career, already studded with highlights, includes a memorable run to the 2014 Australian Open title, where he snapped Novak Djokovic’s 25-match winning streak in Melbourne and then toppled Rafael Nadal in the final. He denied Djokovic a first French Open crown in 2015 and added a US Open title in 2016, each time overcoming the sport’s biggest names. Alongside Roger Federer, he captured Olympic gold in doubles in 2008 and helped Switzerland win the Davis Cup in 2014. Sixteen ATP titles and a reputation as one of the game’s fiercest competitors cement his legacy.

This latest victory also sparked memories of the legendary Ken Rosewall, who at 44 reached the third round at the 1978 Australian Open. Rosewall’s feat stood for nearly half a century, and now, Wawrinka joins him in the annals of tennis history. “I have good confidence in my fitness level that I can handle those long matches,” Wawrinka said. “For me, that’s not a problem to really keep it up with the level. Today was again a big battle.”

Next up for Wawrinka is a mouthwatering third-round clash against ninth seed Taylor Fritz. The American, 28, advanced after defeating Vit Kopriva and spoke with respect about his upcoming opponent: “Looked up to Stan for a long time. I know he’s playing well. It’s so impressive the level and just the physicality he’s still bringing. I can barely imagine playing in, like, four years from now!” Fritz trails Wawrinka 1-2 in their head-to-head, with the Swiss claiming wins at Wimbledon 2016 and the Japan Open 2018, though Fritz won their most recent meeting at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters.

Wawrinka’s run comes amid a strong showing for tennis’s elder statesmen in Melbourne this year. Novak Djokovic, 38, is on the verge of his 400th Grand Slam win, while Marin Cilic, 37, also advanced to the third round without dropping a set. “Novak is in a different league anyway. We never compare ourselves to him. He’s always there. He’s always going to be there as long as he’s playing. It’s always amazing the way he can push everybody,” Wawrinka remarked, reflecting on the sport’s generational shift.

For now, though, the spotlight is firmly on Wawrinka. His grit, his shot-making, and his connection with the fans have made his farewell tour one to remember. As he readies himself for another battle against Fritz, tennis fans everywhere are savoring every moment of this remarkable late-career resurgence. Who knows how many more chapters he’ll write before the final curtain falls? One thing’s certain: Stan Wawrinka is not done yet.