Wawrinka opens farewell tour with stirring comeback

PERTH, Australia (AP):

Stan Wawrinka’s 40-year-old legs didn’t let him down over three-plus hours in his first singles match of a 2026 farewell tour yesterday.

Three-time Grand Slam singles champion Wawrinka beat Arthur Rinderknech of France, who is ranked 29th to Wawrinka’s 157th, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5). The match went three hours, 16 minutes.

Wawrinka announced in December that this year would be his last on the ATP tour.

“Today was a tough battle . . . it’s amazing to come here for the first time, to have so much support,” Wawrinka said yesterday. “Twenty years on tour, you kind of always play in the same place and tournaments. So for me, it’s amazing to have this opportunity this year to play in Perth.”

Ahead of his first match, Wawrinka said he hoped to improve on his current ranking and move back into the top 100 before he retires. His highest ranking was number three, achieved when he won the Australian Open in 2014.

“I’m happy with the decision (to retire) and feeling at peace with that,” Wawrinka said.

The United Cup is among a number of tournaments being played over the next two weeks Down Under ahead of the Australian Open which begins in Melbourne on January 18.

His teammate Belinda Bencic started off the tie yesterday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over France’s Leolia Jeanjean, giving the Swiss team a winning 2-0 lead.