At 40, Stan Wawrinka Writes a New Chapter of Grand Slam History

Many young people play tennis. On the biggest stages, who wins usually depends on who has fast legs, quick healing, and a lot of energy. But sports can also make room for a different story. A story about faith, heart, and waiting: one of these stories came to life on a warm night at the Australian Open.

Stan Wawrinka proved that age does not determine everything when he was 40. For more than four hours, the Swiss star fought a tough match to make it to the third round. Getting this win made history and showed fans why they still love the game.

A Night People Will Remember

It was not easy to win. It was not quick. It was not clean. But it was unique.

He played Arthur Gea, a young French player, in the second round of the Australian Open. For four hours and 33 minutes, the two teams fought. The score kept changing. People won and lost sets. The crowd paid close attention to every detail.

He won in five sets in the end. Scores at the end were 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, and 7-6. For the last time, Wawrinka raised his arms. He knew what this meant.

In 48 years, he was the first man in his 40s to make it to the third round of a men’s Grand Slam. That alone made the night unique.

Time to Fight, Not Just an Enemy

Tennis is something Wawrinka has done for a long time. He has won many awards. The best players in the world have lost to him. This win felt different, though.

He was calm and honest after the game. Not wanting to think about past wins, he did not want to compare this one to them. He said that sometimes it is not good to look back. He chose to live in the present instead.

He had a rough year last year. His injuries slowed him down. Losses made him doubt himself. Now that he knew this was his last season and the last Australian Open, the moment was both sad and beautiful.

He said it was hard to explain how he felt. But he also noted that this is why he works so hard. This is why he keeps taking extra steps. He keeps going because of times like these.

A Job Packed With Grit

It is not his first time on a big stage. In 2014, he won the US Open. He has won the Grand Slam trophy before. Tennis has changed since then, though.

It is now faster. The players are young. When you are 40, it takes longer to get better. It seems like every game is a test of both thought and body.

Wawrinka still does not want to quit early. He goes after every ball. He hits hard. He has faith in his backhand with one hand. He trusts his fight the most.

He lost two sets to Gea. A lot of stars would have faded. Wawrinka did not give up. He broke serve when it was important. In the last tiebreak, he kept his cool. His experience helped him get through the storm.

A big testis coming up.

Things are not getting better. Wang will play Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed, in the third round.

Fritz easily beat his opponent in the second round. He beat Vit Kopriva without any trouble. It was 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 for him. He had been having trouble with his knee, but he looked good on the court.

Fritz was kind when he talked about Wawrinka. He told him that he had admired him for a long time. He also spoke about working out with Wawrinka earlier in the season. Wawrinka’s health was the thing that stood out the most.

Fritz said that Wawrinka usually plays long rounds. Even before the beginning of the year, he had to fight hard in three-set matches. Fritz thought it was cool and praised his strength.

Their match is sure to be exciting. Young people will meet adults. Power and speed will meet. The game will be one of the most-watched of the round.

Other well-known names move on.

Even though Wawrinka got all the attention, other top players did their parts too.

This match was easy for Jannik Sinner, the second seed and defending champion. It took only two sets for him to beat James Duckworth of Australia. It was 6-1, 6-4, and 6-2. Sinner was focused and calm, which is why he is a fan favorite.

Novak Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open ten times, also had no trouble. Francesco Maestrelli, an Italian amateur, lost to him 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Djokovic did not even break a sweat and moved on without any trouble.

Each player made their point clear. They are ready to go. They mean business. Do not expect them to slow down.

Strong Moves in the Draw for Women

There was also important play on the women’s side of the competition.

The world number one, Iga Swiatek, kept up her good form. The scores were 6-2, 6-3 for her. She will now play Anna Kalininskaya in the third round after her win.

Swiatek talked about her plans for this season after the game. She said she wants to treat herself better. She needs more rest. She feels like she has too much to do, on and off the court.

Her goal is easy. She wants to spend some time alone. More rest should help her stay strong until the end of the season, she hopes. This player, who has high standards, had an honest moment.

A Surprise Changes the Odds

Every Grand Slam is different. It was the same with this one.

Belinda Bencic, the 10th seed, lost to 19-year-old amateur Nikola Bartunkova. It took three sets to win. It was 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 for Bartunkova.

For the women, it was the first big surprise. She was brave and calm for her age, the young player. It was a tough end for Bencic. She thought it was a dream come true.

Fans of tennis will remember why it is so exciting when these come up. Lists do not always decide what happens. Anything can happen any day.

Why Wawrinka’s Win Is Important

An event with many big names made Wawrinka’s win stand out. It was not just about age. It had to do with spirit.

Seeing a fight from 40 years ago go on for more than four hours sends a strong message. It teaches young players that they need to work hard. Fans can see that the love does not fade over time.

Wawrinka knows that this is his last season. He knows that the end is almost here. He can slow down, but he is giving everything he has left.

These kinds of moments are more than just records and numbers. They make you feel things. People remember them long after the game is over.

Last Thoughts

Even though the Australian Open is still new, it has already given us some great stories. People will remember Stan Wawrinka’s marathon win for a long time. It was brave, patient, and full of love for the game.

As the league goes on, bigger games are coming up. It will get better. Some favorites are going to lose. That is what makes tennis so great.

But one night in Melbourne, a Swiss player in his 40s showed everyone why sports are important. Not because of getting old. Not because of the names. But because of the heart.