TENNIS: Stan Wawrinka at peace as former champion plays last Australian Open

MELBOURNE — Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka will play his final Australian Open carrying both nostalgia and a sense of calm as he reflects on the Grand Slam that defined his career.

The 40-year-old, a three-time Grand Slam champion during the golden era of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, confirmed that 2026 will be his last season on the professional tour.

Wawrinka’s career, marked by his signature one-handed backhand, reached a pinnacle at the 2014 Australian Open. He defeated Rafael Nadal in the final after an unforgettable victory over Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller, one of Melbourne Park’s most iconic matches.

Those achievements are expected to earn him a warm reception when he faces Serbia’s Laslo Djere in the first round of his 20th Australian Open singles appearance.

With his ranking at 139, Wawrinka required a wildcard to enter the main draw. He revealed that thoughts of retirement had begun surfacing late last season.

“End of last year, between October, November, December, I had things in my mind,” he told reporters at Melbourne Park on Friday. “I wanted to keep going, that’s for sure. I was happy playing. And I am still. It was quite clear that next year should be my last year. It was not at all a hard decision. It was quite easy. I’m super happy with this decision. I’m at peace with that.”

Despite his age and a body tested by multiple knee surgeries, Wawrinka played nearly 30 ATP Challenger Tour matches and spent time away from the main tour as his ranking fell outside the top 150.

He started the season on a positive note, reaching the final of the team-based United Cup for Switzerland, largely thanks to teammate Belinda Bencic’s strong performance.

“I’m looking forward to the year,” he said. “One year of tennis is a lot of tennis. I’m also happy to try to play this year by being still competitive, by playing well.”

-Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters