At 40 years old, Stan Wawrinka battled through a five-set thriller to defeat French qualifier Arthur Gea and advance to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time since 2020. The Swiss veteran became the oldest man to achieve this feat since Ken Rosewall in 1978. Wawrinka, who plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season, now faces ninth seed Taylor Fritz.
Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion and former world No. 3, showcased his enduring resilience in Melbourne on January 22, 2026. In a grueling second-round match lasting four hours and 33 minutes, the 40-year-old Swiss edged out 21-year-old French qualifier Arthur Gea 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(3). This victory marked Wawrinka's 58th five-set match in the Open Era, bringing his record to 31-27, the most of any player according to ATP records.
Wawrinka produced 63 winners and 11 aces but also committed 69 unforced errors in a contest defined by aggressive play. Gea, ranked No. 198 and contesting his first five-set match at tour level, struggled with cramps in the decisive tiebreaker, allowing Wawrinka to secure six match points before closing with a forehand winner. The win made Wawrinka the first player aged 40 or older to reach the men's third round at a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall did so at 44 in 1978.
Post-match, Wawrinka admitted to feeling 'exhausted' but expressed gratitude for the crowd's support. 'As I told you, it’s my last Australian Open, so I’m trying to last as long as possible,' he said in his on-court interview. 'I’m not young anymore, so I need your energy. It’s an amazing feeling to be on this court and have so much amazing support.' He even joked about deserving a beer after the longest match of the tournament.
This marks Wawrinka's 12th third-round appearance in Melbourne, following a first-round win over Laslo Djere. Next, he faces American ninth seed Taylor Fritz, against whom Wawrinka holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage. Fritz, the 2024 US Open runner-up, praised Wawrinka's physicality: 'It’s so impressive the level and just the physicality he’s still bringing.'
Wawrinka's one-handed backhand remains a highlight, though he humbly noted it wasn't at its best. As he enters his farewell season, this performance adds another chapter to a career boasting three Grand Slam titles and 16 ATP victories.
