Stan Wawrinka’s final match at the Australian Open started with a win on Monday afternoon, when he beat Laslo Djere 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). Wawrinka failed to convert a set point in the opening frame, but bounced back and controlled the rest of the match to advance to three hours and 20 minutes.
The 40-year-old Swiss, who received a wild last card at the event, is a former champion at Melbourne Park (2014). He has reached two other semis Down Under (2015, 2017) in addition to two quarterfinal appearances (2011, 2020).
“It’s been a long journey,” thought Wawrinka. “It’s been great, so many memories here, it’s been amazing. The only reason I came back is because of the love you give me, it was amazing today,” Wawrinka said in his court interview. “It’s my last year of love, I’m not young anymore, so I have to be careful.
“Today was amazing, it’s very special to be on the court and in the Grand Slam. It’s the reason I train hard every day with my team, to be here competing with the best players in the world. I’m very happy that I won and I have the chance to play another match here. I try to enjoy it but I’m also a competitor, so I’m always fighting and I hope to play another good match.”
It’s a very winnable match, too, as the three-time major champion will face qualifier Arthur Gea instead of No. 17 seed Jiri Lehecka. Gea upset Lehecka 7-5, 7-6(1), 7-5 on Monday.
Five highlights from day 2:
Australian Open Day 2 scores
Stan Wawrinka d. Laslo Djere 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Arthur Gea d. Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 7-6(1), 7-5
Novak Djokovic d. Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Nuno Borges d. Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, ret.
Casper Ruud d. Mattia Bellucci 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina d. Filip Misolic 6-2, 6-3, 6-3
Tommy Paul d. Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Fabian Marozsan d. Arthur Rinderknecht 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4
Botic van de Zandschulp d. Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(3)
Marin Cilic d. Daniel Altmaier 6-0, 6-0, 7-6(3)
Rinky Hijikata d. Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
Kamil Majchrzak d. Jake Fearnley 7-6(2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3)
Alexandre Muller d. Alexei Popyrin 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10-4)
Reilly Opelka d. Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
Alexander Shevchenko d. Elias Ymer 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-1
Thiago Agustin Tirante d. Aleksandar Vukic 7-5, 6-2, 6-2
Jordan Thompson d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-1, 6-1
Alex de Minaur d. Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
Daniel Medvedev d. Jesper de Jong 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(2)
Andrey Rublev d. Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
Denis Shapovalov d. Bu Yunchaokete 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-1
Student Tien d. Marcos Giron 7-6(2), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2
Valentin Vacherot d. Martin Damm 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Quentin Halys d. Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(2)
Francesco Maestrelli d. Terence Atmane 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-1
Hamad Medjedovic d. Mariano Navone 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2
Jaume Munar d. Dalibor Svrcina 3-6, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3
Jerry Shang d. Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-0
Jordan Thompson d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-1, 6-1
