Stan Wawrinka became the first 40-year-old man to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in 48 years after a marathon five-set victory over Arthur Gea at the Australian Open. The Swiss veteran, playing his final year on tour, survived 4 hours and 33 minutes to win 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
Stan Wawrinka etched his name into tennis history on January 22, 2026, during the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne. At 40 years and 310 days old, the three-time Grand Slam champion defeated French qualifier Arthur Gea in a grueling five-setter, marking the longest match of the tournament so far. The scoreline read 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3), with Wawrinka recovering from a two-sets-to-one deficit.
This triumph made Wawrinka the first player over 40 to advance to the third round of a major since Ken Rosewall achieved the feat at the 1978 Australian Open. It also represented Wawrinka's 49th five-set match in Grand Slam main draws, surpassing Roger Federer's record of 48. The Swiss now holds a 26-23 record in such encounters, with his first five-setter dating back to the 2005 French Open.
Reflecting on the victory at John Cain Arena, Wawrinka expressed exhaustion but determination. "Exhausted. I am trying to last as long as possible on my last Australian Open," he said. "Of course, after a tough year like last year, knowing it’s my last one here, my last Australian Open, my last year, it’s really special." When asked about post-match plans, he added, "I think I’ll pick up a beer. I deserve one!"
Wawrinka, who won the Australian Open in 2014, will next face ninth seed Taylor Fritz, who advanced with a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Vit Kopriva. Fritz praised Wawrinka's resilience: "I’ve 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."
The match highlighted Wawrinka's enduring competitive spirit in his farewell season, inspiring fans amid a day of strong performances from top seeds like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
