AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2026

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

S. WAWRINKA/A. Gea

4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Stan, what do you think made the difference in the end in your favor?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, was a tough battle. When you win 7-6 in the fifth, it's always a few points there and that. I'm happy with the ending. Of course, it was important to stay positive to the match. The atmosphere and the support was amazing. Really helped me to really stay active during those four hours.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Your winning percentage in best-of-five is better than best-of-three. What do you think it is about best-of-five that you're so good at? Seem to be a specialist at times.

STAN WAWRINKA: No, Grand Slam always been in general better for me. Like, I feel that I have more time to put my game, to find solution. Also I have good confidence in my fitness level that I can handle those long matches. For me, that's not a problem to really keep it up with the level.

So today was again a big battle, of course. I was not feeling great. Probably start to cramp at the end. For me, yeah, I was pushing myself, pushing myself through. Of course, you need to feel good physically but also mentally you need to stay positive, need to find solution.

Like I said, for me playing here, playing with this amazing atmosphere, support, it really give me a lot of energy on the court to keep staying positive, to keep fighting, to keep pushing myself. I'm super happy with the result.

Q. You've obviously won a title here. Beaten Novak here. Won other Grand Slams. Where does this rank as an achievement in your mind?

STAN WAWRINKA: Again, for me, like compare time, never compare the past. That's really never good idea to do it. For me, I'm always trying to stay in the present, living with what's happening in the present.

Of course, after tough year like last year, knowing that my last one here, my last Australian Open, my last year, it's really special. The emotion are really completely different. It's a feeling that's tough to describe. But it's the reason why at 40 I'm still pushing myself, pushing the limit, practicing hard the off-season, it's to live those moments.

Q. If I can ask about the small detail on your shirt that seems to be a tribute to the shorts you wore at the French Open. Fashion history, what does it mean to be a little part of that?

STAN WAWRINKA: I'm not part of fashion history. People remember that short because it was not the best-looking short. Also because I did won the French Open. That's why we talk so much about it.

No, I'm happy with the clothes I'm having right now. I think they're good. I'm happy to wear them.

Q. I was watching some of the United Cup where you both played and you were in the corner. Listening to some of the conversations you were having with your team made me wonder whether one day you might like to do some coaching.

STAN WAWRINKA: That's a good question that I don't have the answer right now. For me, like if you ask me now, in the short-term I don't want to coach. In long-term, we never know what's going to happen. I'm happy with where I am right now. Happy to play this year, to try to finish as good as possible. Probably to take some time off after.

Q. Djokovic and Cilic also had good days today. Monfils had a nice send-off. Is this the tournament of the old guys?

STAN WAWRINKA: I think it's great. I saw Cilic winning. It's good to see him back. He got some injury last year, too. It's good to see him at the right level.

Novak is in different league anyway. We never compare ourself to him. He's always there. He's always going to be there as long as he's playing. It's always amazing the way he can push everybody.

Q. The best-of-five, is there a point in your career where you realized it was the best format for you, you figured out the formula?

STAN WAWRINKA: Not really. But like I said, I feel like a Grand Slam five-set match, from the beginning I can be, all my career I can be a bit less nervous. You have no time to fail. You have no time to find solution. This is something that has mentally always helped me, to try to play my best tennis.