Stan Wawrinka played his final match at the Australian Open, concluding his career at Melbourne Park with a dynamic mix of excitement, courage and hilarity.
The 40-year-old Swiss legend said goodbye at the site of his first Grand Slam triumph in 2014.
The incredible 2014 champion was treated to a standing ovation and a special on-field ceremony that reflected his personality: world-class yet deeply human.
Stan became the oldest man to reach the third round of the Australian Open since the legendary Ken Rosewall in 1978. His performance transcended the four-set defeat as he unleashed his trademark backhand rockets and pushed 28-year-old Fritz to his limits.
He won his Junior French Open title in 2003 and his first ATP tournament in Umag in 2006. Stan’s breakthrough came when he won his first Grand Slam at the 2014 Australian Open, followed by the French Open in 2015 and the US Open in 2016.
Melbourne Park has seen its last Wawrinka backhand, but his farewell continues. Currently ranked No. 139, he is positioning himself for one final push into the Top 100 before his final retirement at the end of the 2026 season.
