Stan Wawrinka’s last Australian Open, with his heart on his sleeve - and his shorts on his shirt

MELBOURNE, Australia — Stan Wawrinka became the second-oldest man to win a match at Melbourne Park after beating Laslo Djere of Serbia 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) Monday evening at the Australian Open.

The 40-year-old Swiss, who won the title in 2014, entered the 2026 tournament as a wild card in his final season on the ATP Tour. Against Djere, despite being profligate on break points, he displayed the explosive power and point craft that have been hallmarks of his career, as well as the economy of movement that has helped him remain a factor even in longer matches as he nears the end of his time on the tennis court.

His victory at 40 years and 296 days is only surpassed by Ivo Karlović, who won at 40 years and 326 days in 2020.

When it was over, Wawrinka told the crowd in his on-court interview that he had come back because of “the love you give me.”

“I’m so happy I won. I have a chance to play one more here. Like you said it’s my last time. I’m trying to enjoy. I’m also trying to win and compete.”

Wawrinka’s Yonex kit for the competition also has a little bit of tennis history sewn into it. The blue-and-white shirt has a strip of patterned stripes just below the collar, in homage to Wawrinka’s famous red, white and grey plaid shorts that he wore en route to the French Open title in 2015. They now hang on a wall at Magnus Norman’s house, who coached Wawrinka when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final there.

“He gave them to me, with the match shirt and everything,” Norman said during a video interview from Stockholm last May.

“He framed them for me. I love them, of course.”

Wawrinka, who will face either No. 17 seed Jiří Lehečka or qualifier Arthur Géa in the second round, is playing his final Australian Open with his heart on his sleeve — and his shorts on his shirt.

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