{"id":428339,"date":"2026-01-25T04:41:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T04:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/428339\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T04:41:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T04:41:09","slug":"australian-open-stan-wawrinka-enjoys-beer-on-court-after-loss-to-taylor-fritz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/428339\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open: Stan Wawrinka enjoys beer on court after loss to Taylor Fritz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n

Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka wanted just one thing after playing the final Australian Open<\/a> match of his career Saturday: a beer.<\/p>\n

Wawrinka, who plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season, lost to No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the third round. At age 40, Wawrinka became the first man 40 or older to reach the third round of a Grand Slam<\/a> since Ken Rosewall at the 1978 Australian Open.<\/p>\n

After the match ended, Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley joined Wawrinka on the court for a ceremony and a small tribute on the stadium screen at John Cain Arena. After the ceremony, Wawrinka stepped to the microphone.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Stan <\/p>\n

Stan Wawrinka holds up a beer after his third-round loss to Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 24, 2026. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake\/AP Photo)<\/p>\n

“Normally, we talk on court after a final. Today is not a final, so I won\u2019t make it too long,” he said. “Thank you for the wild-card invitation \u2026 to have one last chance to say goodbye to the people in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

“It was my last time as a tennis player here, unfortunately. I had so many emotions here the last 20 years. I\u2019m sad to leave, but it\u2019s been an amazing journey.”<\/p>\n

Wawrinka, who won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Australia in 2014, wanted to spend his final moments on the court with a beer.<\/p>\n

BEN SHELTON GIVES POIGNANT PATRIOTIC MESSAGE AFTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN VICTORY<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Stan <\/p>\n

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland gestures with fans as he walks onto the court for his third-round match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.\u00a0 (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake\/AP Photo)<\/p>\n

“Now, I can enjoy. If you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like to share a beer with Craig.”<\/p>\n

Fritz said what the 40-year-old was doing was amazing.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a really, really tough match obviously, the environment as well,” Fritz said of Wawrinka’s Australian finale. “I can\u2019t blame anyone in the crowd for cheering for Stan here. It\u2019s amazing what he\u2019s out here doing.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Stan <\/p>\n

Spectators cheer Stan Wawrinka during his third-round match against Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 24, 2026. (Asanka Brendon Ratnayake\/AP Photo)<\/p>\n

“I have so much respect for the passion and the drive that it takes to be doing what he\u2019s doing this week.”<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s sports coverage on X<\/a>, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n