Stan Wawrinka revelled in registering his first grand slam victory since Wimbledon 2024 as he came from a set down to beat Laslo Djere at the Australian Open.
Wawrinka, who will draw the curtain on his 24-year professional career at the end of the season, opened his Melbourne campaign with a 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-7 (7-4) win on Monday (January 19).
The 2014 Australian Open champion had failed to win a match at the season-opening major in five years, and that looked set to continue when Djere edged the opening set.
However, the 40-year-old, backed by a raucous crowd, put together back-to-back set victories to go one away from the second round, and he needed a tie-break to get there.
And following another lengthy rally between the pair, Djere could only return
a Wawrinka forehand into the net, with the three-time major winner in awe of the support for him.
"It has been a long journey. It has been amazing, so many memories here, it has been incredible. The only reason I come back is because of the love you give me," he said.
"It was amazing today. It is my last year. The passion is still intact. I am not young any more, so I have to be careful. Today was so special to be on court and at a grand slam.
"It is the reason I train hard every day with my team, to be here competing with the best players in the world. I am happy I won and have a chance to play one more match here.
"I am trying to enjoy myself, but I am also a competitor, so I am always going to fight, and hopefully I will play another good match. "
No, thank you Stan @stanwawrinka85 | @AustralianOpen | #AO26 pic.twitter.com/3B5dMX6lkV
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 19, 2026
Wawrinka will square off against Arthur Gea for a place in round three, with the French qualifier producing one of the shocks of the first round by beating Jiri Lehecka.
Gea emerged a 7-5 7-6 (7-1) 7-5 victor over the 17th seed, while there was also heartache for Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was forced to retire from his first-round tie.
Auger-Aliassime withdrew from his match with Nuno Borges with cramp, with his Portuguese opponent leading 3-6 6-4 6-4 before the encounter was halted after the third set.
"I want to be on the court winning. I want to be on the court competing with my opponent," Auger-Aliassime said.
"I don't want to be just standing there like a punching bag. So there's no point, and you know to move on. "
Elsewhere in Melbourne, Alex de Minaur safely made it through to the second round with a 6-2 6-2 6-3 victory over Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena.
Daniil Medvedev also progressed with a 7-5 6-2 7-6 (7-2) win against Jesper de Jong, while Casper Rudd downed Mattia Belluci 6-1 6-2 6-4.
Data Debrief: Wawrinka proves that age is just a number
At 40 years and 296 days old, Wawrinka is the second-oldest player to win a men's singles grand slam match in Melbourne, younger only than Ivo Karlovic - 2020 (40y, 326d).
The Swiss was also dominant on serve, winning 86% (49/57) of first serves and 64% (38/59) of second serves. He also earned 18 break points in the match, converting three.
De Minaur (41), meanwhile, is now the player with the second most wins in hard-court grand slams men's singles amongst Australians during the Open Era. Only Lleyton Hewitt with 79 has more.
