Wawrinka, 40, makes Grand Slam history by reaching the third round in Australia

In a remarkable display of endurance and skill, 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka etched his name into Grand Slam history Thursday at the Australian Open, becoming the first man his age or older to reach the third round of a major tournament since Ken Rosewall accomplished the feat at the 1978 Australian Open.

The Swiss veteran outlasted 21-year-old French qualifier Arthur Gea in an epic 4-hour, 33-minute battle, eventually prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) in a fifth-set tiebreaker. The match stands as the longest of this year’s tournament in Melbourne.

“I’ll pick up a beer,” an exhausted Wawrinka told the appreciative crowd during his on-court interview. “I deserve one!”

The 2014 Australian Open champion, who announced last month that 2024 would be his final year on the professional tour, was candid about his physical state after the grueling contest. “Exhausted!” he admitted, before adding, “It’s my last Australian Open, so I’m trying to last as long as possible.”

Wawrinka’s victory represents a remarkable milestone in the sport’s history. When Rosewall reached the third round in Australia 48 years ago, he was 44 years old – establishing a longevity mark that has stood for nearly five decades.

The crowd at KIA Arena was firmly behind the Swiss veteran throughout the match, with fans holding signs declaring “Stan the Man” – an appropriate moniker for a player who has now compiled an impressive 26-23 record in five-set Grand Slam matches, the most such contests of any player in the Open era.

For Gea, the match marked his first experience going the full five-set distance at a major tournament. Despite the disappointment, the young Frenchman remained upbeat about the learning opportunity. “It was an incredible experience,” he reflected. “I will take time to analyze everything. But, yeah, it was cool.”

The match could have ended earlier for either player, with both struggling to capitalize on break point opportunities. Wawrinka secured an early advantage in the decisive fifth set but couldn’t maintain it. By the match’s conclusion, each player had converted just four of their break chances.

When the decisive tiebreaker arrived, Wawrinka’s superior fitness became evident. Gea began experiencing cramping in his right leg at 1-1 in the tiebreaker, visibly struggling as the match reached its climax. The Frenchman served a critical double fault to give Wawrinka a 4-2 lead, a moment that signaled the beginning of the end.

The Swiss veteran showed his tactical brilliance in the final points, finishing a 21-shot rally with a delicate touch volley that Gea couldn’t reach. Wawrinka followed with a perfectly executed lob to extend his advantage to 7-3 before another Gea double fault made it 8-3. A forehand winner gave Wawrinka six match points, and he didn’t waste the opportunity to close out the historic victory.

“I have good confidence in my fitness level that I can handle those long matches. For me, that’s not a problem to really keep it up with the level,” Wawrinka said afterward. “Today was again a big battle.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion now faces a significant test in the third round against No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz, the 2023 U.S. Open finalist who defeated Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to advance.

Fritz, 28, expressed his admiration for his next opponent. “Looked up to Stan for a long time. I know he’s playing well,” the American said. “It’s so impressive the level and just the physicality he’s still bringing.”

Reflecting on Wawrinka’s longevity, Fritz added a revealing comment about the physical demands of elite tennis: “I can barely imagine playing in, like, four years from now!”

As Wawrinka continues his farewell tour, his Australian Open performance demonstrates that even at 40, “Stan the Man” remains capable of creating memorable moments on tennis’s biggest stages.