Tennis · International
Wawrinka wins five-set marathon against Gea
The forty-year-old became the first man of his age in a major third round since 1978.
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Stan Wawrinka defeated French qualifier Arthur Gea 4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 7–6(10–3) to reach the Australian Open third round. The Swiss wildcard prevailed after four hours and thirty-three minutes in front of a vocal crowd at Kia Arena.
At forty, Wawrinka became the first man aged forty or older to reach that stage of a major since Ken Rosewall at the 1978 Australian Open. He hit sixty-three winners and continued a demanding opening month that had included representing Switzerland at the United Cup.
The encounter was Wawrinka’s fifty-eighth five-set match at tour level, equalling Ivan Lendl’s Open Era record. Playing his final Australian Open, the 2014 champion thanked the supporters for supplying energy and prepared to meet ninth seed Taylor Fritz.
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