Stanimal survives: 40-year-old Wawrinka outlasts Gea in historic five-set Australian Open Marathon
Stan Wawrinka defeated French qualifier Arthur Gea 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 on Thursday to become the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam third round in nearly half a century.
Stan Wawrinka, Australian Open 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
The 2014 Australian Open champion delivered a display of mythological resilience on Margaret Court Arena, battling for 4 hours and 33 minutes (longest match of the edition so far) to secure his place in the round of 32. At 40 years old, and just two months shy of his 41st birthday, Wawrinka rallied from two sets to one down against the 21-year-old Arthur Gea.
In doing so, the Swiss legend competed in his 49th five-set match at a major, surpassing Roger Federer for the most five-setters played by any man in the history of Grand Slam tennis.
Surpassing Rosewall 1978
This victory marks a series of milestones for the veteran, who is competing in the final season of his professional career. It is the first time Wawrinka has secured back-to-back tour-level wins since 2024 and his first appearance in a Grand Slam third round since the 2023 US Open. By advancing this far in Melbourne, Wawrinka has become the oldest male player to reach the third round of a major since Ken Rosewall in 1978.
Despite the 19-year age gap, Wawrinka appeared the fresher athlete as the match entered its decisive fifth-set tiebreak. Gea, the world number 198 who reached the main draw after three rounds of qualifying, struggled to find answers as the veteran’s trademark one-handed backhand dictated the closing stages. Addressing the electric Melbourne crowd that stayed past midnight to witness the comeback, Wawrinka credited the fans for his survival.
“I’m old now so I need your energy, thanks a lot for pushing me,” Wawrinka said during his on-court interview. “I don’t know how I will recover, but I’m happy.”
Every match is for a final memory
The physical toll of the marathon match was evident, but Wawrinka’s focus remained on celebrating the moment rather than immediate tactical analysis. When asked how he intended to prepare for his next match, the former world number three was characteristically candid. “Maybe I’ll pick up a beer,” he joked. “I deserve one.”
The win is a poignant highlight for the 2026 edition of the tournament, which serves as Wawrinka’s farewell to the Australian public. While his speed may have diminished from his peak years, his competitive fire remains undimmed, having now outlasted a representative of the tour’s next generation in one of the tournament’s most physical encounters.
Wawrinka now moves into a high-stakes third-round meeting with Taylor Fritz or Kopruva. While the American remains the heavy favorite, the Swiss veteran has proven this week that his “Stanimal” persona is still capable of surfacing when the stakes are highest. For Wawrinka, every match now represents a final memory in a career defined by its late-blooming greatness and unparalleled grit.
