Australian Open: At 40, Stan Wawrinka finds joy and fight in Melbourne as farewell looms | Tennis News
The Times of India in Melbourne: At the end of the three-hour 20-minute exchange, Stan Wawrinka spread out his arms and soaked in the love from a packed KIA Arena. Playing his final Australian Open, the 40-year-old arrived in Melbourne Park with a wing and a prayer. He had managed only five Tour-level wins last season, none at a Grand Slam, and had crashed to four straight United Cup losses earlier this month.Wawrinka needed this win, more as balm than bonus.
The crowd sensed it too, lifting their 2014 champion at every turn. Buoyed by that support, the Swiss secured his first victory here in five years, rallying past Serbia’s Laslo Djere 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to extend his stay here. Next up for the Swiss, who won the French Open in 2015 and the US Open in 2016, is the 21-year-old French qualifier Arthur Gea, who knocked out the Czech 17th seed Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 7-6 (1), 7-5.On a warm day at Melbourne, with courtside temperatures topping 31 degrees, testing the reserve of the field, younger, and in-form players like the seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime struggled with cramps, eventually retiring against Portugal’s Nuno Borges when trailing 6-3, 4-6, 4-6.Wawrinka, playing his 20th Aus Open, and 75th start overall at the majors, was quick to thank the crowd.“The only reason I come back is because of the love you give me, it was amazing today,” an emotional Wawrinka said. “It is my last year. The passion is still intact. I am not young anymore, so I have to be careful. I am so happy I won and have a chance to play one more match here. I am trying to enjoy but I’m also a competitor, so I’m always going to fight and hopefully I will play another good match.”Wawrinka, who had 33 winners in the match, showed glimpses of his celebrated power play. His brutal play, especially the single-handed backhand, a sight at full flight, earned him the nickname ‘Stanimal.’ During his peak years, he repeatedly raised his level against the very best, overpowering opponents with raw force and fearlessness.“I wish it would feel the same, the same power and everything,” he said with a smile, “I don’t try to feel the same as 10 years ago. I’ve always been honest with myself, knowing where I am, what’s my ability, what I can do, what I can still achieve, the way I can still play. I try to use that on court every match.” “I know I’m not as good as I was before. I know I’m not physical and tennis-wise as I was before. That’s normal. I’m getting old. But I’m still happy with what I’m doing, always trying to push my own limit, always trying to be better.” The 40-year-old, now ranked 139 in the world, who came into the tournament on a wildcard, put on a strong serving performance, winning 18 or 21 service games. “Serving in general has been quite good, especially when I find my rhythm. I’ve been working more on my serve, especially to get more free points. I’m happy it helps me in matches like today,” he said.Wawrinka decided to call time on his career in the winter of 2025.“I wanted to keep going, I’m still happy playing,” he said. “At the end of last year, it was quite clear that next year (2026) should be my last year. It was not at all a hard decision. I’m super happy with this decision. I didn’t want to not know when I would stop, suddenly get injured or things like that or lose the level of the game.”There’ll be at least one more dance from Wawrinka at Melbourne Park.
