Stan Wawrinka’s run at his last-ever Australian Open continued with a remarkable five-set victory over Arthur Gea.
The Swiss star is set to retire at the end of 2026 and he received a wild card for his final appearance at the Australian Open, which he won in 2014.
Wawrinka broke a 50-year record with his latest win as he set up a tantalising third round match against Taylor Fritz.
Wawrinka’s victory over Gea also saw him make Grand Slam history by taking a record which was previously held by Roger Federer.
Stan Wawrinka makes Grand Slam history at the Australian Open
Wawrinka has made a name for himself as one of the toughest opponents to beat on the ATP Tour and he now has a record to show for his gruelling performances.
His match with Gea went the distance, with the Swiss star managing to win a deciding tie-break in the fifth set.
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Wawrinka has now played 49 five-set matches in his career, which is more than anyone else in tennis according to OptaAce.
The star previously shared the record with his compatriot Federer, but he now stands tall over the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
The likes of Novak Djokovic, Lleyton Hewitt, and Fernando Verdasco are also just below Wawrinka in five-set matches.
Stan Wawrinka also holds a 2026 Australian Open record
Wawrinka’s run at the start of his 2026 season has been remarkable at the United Cup and now the Australian Open.
The Swiss star has been one of the stories of the season already, and he could take an Australian Open record by the end of the 2026 tournament.
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The star’s match with Gea is currently the longest match of this year’s Grand Slam, clocking in at 4 hours and 33 minutes.
While it could be broken over the next nine days, he will very likely hold one of the longest matches of the tournament.
