Stan Wawrinka stunned Arthur Gea in five sets to advance at the Australian Open on Thursday.
Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, defeated Gea 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, much to the delight of the partisan crowd inside the Show Court Arena.
As a result, Wawrinka has now played 49 five-set matches at Grand Slam events, surpassing Roger Federer’s record.
The Swiss star, a three-time Grand Slam champion, will face ninth seed Taylor Fritz in the third round.
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After defeating Gea, Wawrinka sent a message of gratitude to fans at the Australian Open.
Stan Wawrinka’s message to Australian Open fans
In an Instagram post on the ATP Tour’s official account, Wawrinka said: “Hey guys, amazing day again at the Australian Open.“
“Thank you so much for the support, for the energy that you bring on court. It’s really special to me, helping me to get through those long matches.
“I’m 40 years old but still fighting after four hours so. So because of you, so thank you so much and hope to see you for the next one.”
Wawrinka, who has achieved a feat not witnessed in 50 years, will hope he receives the same level of support when he faces Taylor Fritz on Saturday. Wawrinka, now ranked 139th on the ATP Tour, has beaten Fritz in two of their three contests on the ATP Tour.
If Wawrinka defeats Fritz, he will play Lorenzo Musetti or Tomas Machac in the fourth round.
By reaching the third round, Wawrinka has produced his best run at the Australian Open since reaching the quarter-finals in 2020.
At the 2020 tournament, Wawrinka defeated Damir Dzumhur, Andreas Seppi, John Isner and Daniil Medvedev, before losing to Alexander Zverev.
A year later, Wawrinka reached the second round in Australia, losing to Marton Fucsovics. He then missed the 2022 Australian Open, before losing in the first round for three consecutive years between 2023 and 2025.
Stan Wawrinka deserves praise
Stan Wawrinka’s run to the Australian Open third round has been truly remarkable.
The Swiss maestro, who is the oldest player in the draw, has proven that he can still compete at the highest level on the Tour, despite being 40 years old.
If Wawrinka were to defeat Taylor Fritz in the next round, it would be one of the most remarkable feats in tennis history.
Who would win this legendary showdown?
Despite playing an exhausting second-round match, tennis fans should not dismiss Wawrinka’s chances of usurping the American on Saturday.
If any player on the ATP Tour is capable of pulling off an upset in dramatic fashion, it is Stan Wawrinka.
The Swiss legend knows how to win in Melbourne – having captured the 2014 title – and should not be underestimated by Fritz.
