Wawrinka rallies past Djere in final Melbourne campaign

Stan Wawrinka opened his final Australian Open campaign by defeating Laslo Djere 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(4). The forty-year-old Swiss wildcard recorded his first main-draw victory at Melbourne Park since 2021 in his twentieth appearance at the tournament.

After losing the opening set, the former champion broke once in each of the next two sets. He then recovered from 4–2 down in the fourth before winning the tiebreak, encouraged throughout by a full Kia Arena and supporters of his powerful one-handed backhand.

Wawrinka produced fourteen aces among thirty-five winners and benefited from sixty-seven Djere unforced errors in the three-hour, twenty-minute match. The victory secured a second-round contest with French qualifier Arthur Gea and was his first main-draw major win since Wimbledon 2024.