Stan Wawrinka ended his Australian Open campaign with a beer and a wave, saluting the Melbourne crowd after his third-round loss to Taylor Fritz. The 40-year-old Swiss, a 2014 champion, secured a historic milestone by becoming the oldest man to reach the third round since 1978.

Wawrinka's exit followed a grueling five-set win over Arthur Gea in the second round, his 49th career five-set match at a major. Despite announcing this as his final season, the three-time Grand Slam champion proved he can still compete at the highest level, earning respect from opponent Fritz and the tournament director.

Fritz, the 2024 US Open runner-up, advances to face Lorenzo Musetti in the round of 16. The American fired 30 aces in his victory, enjoying the indoor conditions when the roof closed due to extreme heat. Wawrinka’s farewell, marked by a shared beer with Craig Tiley, closed a remarkable chapter in Melbourne.