Melbourne, Australia — stan wawrinka said goodbye after losing to Taylor Fritz And then grabbed two beers from the courtside ice box, popped the cans with the Australian Open tournament director and greeted the crowd.
“All cheer!” Wawrinka said after a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 third-round loss to No. 9 Fritz on Saturday. “And thank you very much.”
Wawrinka, 40, won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Australia in 2014.
With a four-and-a-half-hour, five-set victory over the 21-year-old French qualifier arthur geah In the second round, Wawrinka became the first man aged 40 or older to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall at the 1978 Australian Open. His 49th five-set major match was also a record.
“I’m not sure it’s the best statistic,” Wawrinka said of the 40-plus milestone, “but I’ll take it.”
Wawrinka said before the start of the 2026 season that this would be his last tour on the professional circuit, but he said it was not just a farewell tour. He is still working and getting results.
After Wawrinka’s last match at Melbourne Park, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tilley joined him on the court for a ceremony and a short tribute on the stadium screen at John Cain Arena.
After the formalities, Wawrinka wanted some last words.
“Usually we talk on the court after the final. Today is not the final, so I won’t make it too long,” he said. “Thank you for the wild-card invitation…to get one last chance to say goodbye to the people in Melbourne.
“Unfortunately, this was my last time as a tennis player. I had a lot of emotions here over the last 20 years. I’m sad to leave, but it’s been an amazing journey.”
Then he said more generously, “Now I can enjoy. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share a beer with Craig.”
Fritz advances to round-of-16 match against No. 5 Lorenzo Musettiwho stopped Tomas Machak 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a four-and-a-half-hour marathon at John Cain Arena on Saturday. The match was stopped for about 10 minutes in the fifth set to close the roof when the stadium’s excessive heat policy was implemented.
Fritz, the 2024 US Open runner-up, enjoyed the indoor conditions, serving 30 aces and just one double fault in four sets against Wawrinka.
“Obviously it’s a very tough match, the atmosphere too,” Fritz said of Wawrinka’s Australian final. “I can’t blame anyone in the crowd for cheering for Stan. It’s amazing what he’s doing out here.
“I very much respect the passion and enthusiasm he has for what he’s doing this week.”
