MELBOURNE, Australia – Stan Wawrinka said goodbye after his loss to Taylor Fritz before grabbing two beers from an on-court refrigerator, cracking cans with the Australian Open tournament director and greeting the crowd.
“Cheers everyone!” Wawrinka said after Saturday’s 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 third-round loss to No. 9 Fritz. “And thank you very much.”
Wawrinka, 40, won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Australia in 2014.
With a 4½-hour, five-set win over 21-year-old French qualifier Arthur Gea in the second round, Wawrinka became the first man aged 40 or over to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall at the 1978 Australian Open. His 49th five-set match at a major was also a record.
“I’m not sure this is the best statistic to have,” Wawrinka said of the 40-plus year milestone, “but I’ll accept it.”
Wawrinka said before the start of the 2026 season that this would be his last on the pro circuit, but he added that it wasn’t just a farewell tour. He still does his best and gets results.
After Wawrinka’s final match at Melbourne Park, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley joined him on court for a ceremony and a small tribute on the John Cain Arena stadium screen.
After the formalities, Wawrinka wanted a few last words.
“Normally we talk after a final on the track. Today is not a final, so I won’t hold on for too long,” he said. “Thank you for the wildcard invitation… to get one last chance to say goodbye to the people of Melbourne.
“Unfortunately it was my last time here as a tennis player. I have had so many emotions here over the past twenty years. I am sad to leave, but it has been a great journey.”
Then he added even more ab-lib: ‘Now I can enjoy myself. If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a beer with Craig.’
Fritz advanced to a round of 16 match against No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti, who held off Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a 4½-hour marathon earlier Saturday at John Cain Arena. That match was stopped about 10 minutes into the fifth set to close the roof when the stadium’s extreme heat policy was invoked.
Fritz, the 2024 US Open runner-up, enjoyed the indoor conditions, hitting 30 aces and just one double fault in four sets against Wawrinka.
“It is obviously a very, very tough match, also in terms of environment,” Fritz said of Wawrinka’s Australian final. “I can’t blame anyone in the crowd for cheering for Stan here. It’s amazing what he’s doing here.
“I have so much respect for the passion and drive it takes to do what he’s doing this week.”
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