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Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka wanted only one thing after playing the final Australian Open match of his career on Saturday: a beer.
Wawrinka, who is set to retire at the end of the 2026 season, lost to No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the third round. At the age of 40, he became the first man aged 40 or older to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall at the 1978 Australian Open.
After the match ended, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley joined Wawrinka on court for a ceremony and a small tribute on the stadium screen at John Cain Arena. After the ceremony, Wawrinka stepped to the microphone.
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Stan Wawrinka holds up a beer after his third round loss to Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia on January 24, 2026. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP Photo)
“Usually we talk on the pitch after a final. Today is not a final so I won’t make it too long,” he said. “Thank you for the wildcard invitation … to have one last chance to say goodbye to the people of Melbourne.
“It was my last time as a tennis player here, unfortunately. I had so many emotions here for the last 20 years. I’m sad to leave, but it’s been a great journey.”
Wawrinka, who won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Australia in 2014, wanted to spend his final moments on court with a beer.
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Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland gestures with fans as he enters the court for his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the United States at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP Photo)
“Now I can enjoy. If you don’t mind, I’d like to share a beer with Craig.”
Fritz said what the 40-year-old was doing was amazing.
“It’s obviously a really, really tough match, the environment as well,” Fritz said of Wawrinka’s Australian final. “I can’t blame anyone in the crowd for cheering Stan on here. It’s unbelievable what he’s doing out here.
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Spectators cheer Stan Wawrinka during his third round match against Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, on January 24, 2026. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP Photo)
“I have so much respect for the passion and the drive that it takes to do what he’s doing this week.”
