Stan Wawrinka Makes History with Emotional Australian Open Victory
Veteran Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka has carved his name into the record books, becoming the first 40-year-old man to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament in 48 years. The 2014 Australian Open champion secured his place after a monumental five-set battle against France's Arthur Gea, a victory he described as "really special" given it marks his final appearance at the tournament.
A Marathon Match and a Milestone Achievement
In a match lasting 4 hours and 33 minutes, Wawrinka demonstrated remarkable resilience. He recovered from being 2-1 down in sets to clinch a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) victory. This historic win means he is the first male player aged 40 or over to progress to the third round of a major since the 1970s, a testament to his enduring physicality and competitive spirit.
Wawrinka's Poignant Reflection on a Final Campaign
Speaking after the match, Wawrinka, who has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season, offered a poignant insight into his motivation. "Knowing it's my last one here, my last Australian Open, my last year, it's really special," he said. "The emotions are really completely different. It's a feeling that's tough to describe. But it's the reason why at 40 I'm still pushing myself, pushing the limit, practising hard in the off-season—it's to live those moments." He declined to compare the win to past glories, emphasising his focus on the present and the unique significance of this final chapter in his career.
Next Challenge: A Clash with Taylor Fritz
Wawrinka's reward for this historic effort is a third-round encounter with the tournament's ninth seed, American Taylor Fritz. Fritz advanced with a composed 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 win over Vit Kopriva and expressed his admiration for the Swiss legend. "I'm excited for it. I think it will be a fun match," said Fritz. "Obviously I 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." Fritz has been managing a knee injury but is prepared for the challenge.
Elsewhere in the Australian Open Draw
Other top seeds enjoyed smoother progress on Thursday. Defending champion and second seed Jannik Sinner eased past Australia's James Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. Ten-time champion Novak Djokovic also had a straightforward victory, dismissing Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
In the women's draw, world number one Iga Swiatek continued her strong form, defeating Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-3 to set up a third-round match with the 31st seed, Anna Kalinskaya. Swiatek revealed a personal goal for the season, stating her aim is to be kinder to herself by prioritising rest. "My goal for this season is actually to, like, unplug a bit better," she said. "Hopefully I'm going to have more energy till the end of the season."
The tournament also witnessed its first major upset in the women's singles, as the 10th seed, Belinda Bencic, fell 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 to 19-year-old qualifier Nikola Bartunkova.
