Melbourne, Jan 24 (UNI) Swiss tennis veteran Stan Wawrinka’s long-standing career at the Australian Open concluded tonight after a hard-fought four-set loss to Taylor Fritz at John Cain Arena.
Fritz defeated Wawrinka 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, but not before the 40-year-old wildcard received a rapturous farewell from the fans.
With the roof closed following a hot day, the arena’s atmosphere reached fever pitch, with many spectators cheering for Wawrinka, who made his Grand Slam debut at Melbourne Park 12 years ago. Fans near the baseline made their presence particularly felt, and a female supporter even had ‘Stan the Man’ painted on her stomach.
After the match, Wawrinka addressed the audience and was presented with a gift by tournament director Craig Tiley, who praised his career, saying: “We love you here, Stan. Well done.” A montage of Wawrinka’s 2014 Australian Open victory over Rafael Nadal was displayed, followed by a farewell lap from the Swiss star.
Wawrinka’s second-round victory over French qualifier Arthur Gea had made him the first 40-year-old man to reach the third round at the Australian Open since Ken Rosewall in 1978, a remarkable feat achieved in a gruelling five-set match lasting four-and-a-half hours. He required a medical timeout after the third set against Fritz, who was himself coping with a knee issue.
The match featured high-intensity exchanges, including 30 aces from Fritz and several breathtaking shots from Wawrinka, including trademark one-handed backhands. Despite losing, Wawrinka earned praise from his opponent. “I can’t blame anyone in the crowd for cheering for Stan here. It’s amazing what he’s out here doing,” Fritz said.
Wawrinka reflected on his career at Melbourne Park, stating: “The atmosphere was once again unbelievable. So thank you, guys, for always showing up. I had so many memories here over the last 20 years.”
