Stan Wawrinka Bids Farewell at Australian Open

Before leaving the court for the final time at Melbourne Park, Stan Wawrinka took a moment to acknowledge Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley.

The 40-year-old Wawrinka, who received a wild card into the main draw and is expected to retire after the 2026 season, faced off against No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz. He lost the match 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in what will be his last appearance at a Grand Slam.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a beer with Craig,” Wawrinka expressed during his message on the court.

Following that, he grabbed two beers, addressed the crowd, and together they celebrated with their drinks.

“Cheers, everyone. Thank you so much,” he said, letting the moment sink in.

With his retirement, Wawrinka leaves behind three Grand Slam titles and a professional career spanning back to 2002, during which he collected 16 titles. He rose to the No. 3 spot in the ATP Rankings in 2014, winning three majors but missing out on Wimbledon.

This year, he made history by becoming the first man over 40 to reach the third round at the Australian Open since Ken Rosewall in 1978. According to the Associated Press, Wawrinka defeated Laslo Djere in the first round and Arthur Gere in the second before facing Fritz.

In the match against Fritz, Wawrinka performed admirably, pushing the first set into a tiebreak and even claiming victory in the second set, showcasing his signature backhand.

On court, he reflected, “Normally after the final we talk on court. It’s not a final today, so I won’t go too long. Thank you for the wildcard invitation… This is my last chance to say goodbye to the people of Melbourne. Unfortunately, this was my last time leaving here as a tennis player. I’ve had many emotions here over the last 20 years. I’m sad to be leaving, but it’s been a fantastic journey.”

Taylor Fritz, who moved on to the fourth round, praised Wawrinka, stating he found him inspiring, a sentiment echoed by Novak Djokovic.