At 40, Can Stan Wawrinka Defy Time at the Australian Open?

Few tennis players are still challenging themselves in the largest arenas of the sport at the age of 40. However, it is clear that Stan Wawrinka is an exception as he possesses a passion for competitiveness and an unending passion for the sport. With the start of the new season, the question is whether the dreams of Stan Wawrinka’s Australian Open can be turned into results of any significance as the new generation of fast-moving players attacks the club.

Experience vs Endurance in Melbourne Hard Courts

The resume of Wawrinka is respectable. He has also had a career as an ex-champion at the Australian Open who could hit hard with his groundstrokes, be mentally strong, and still be able to peak on the Grand Slam stages. However, with age, new problems appear. Recovery times are more time-consuming, injuries are more difficult to manage, and best-of-five-set matches are more taxing than ever.

Nevertheless, it would be too soon to withdraw him. Rational scheduling, choosing the tournament to play, and strategic change-ups have enabled him to be competitive in the tour. His one-handed backhand is still a weapon, and he has a lot of experience that can be disturbing to the less experienced. To fans, the attraction of Stan Wawrinka’s appearances at the Australian Open is not only about winning, but it is also about the chance of having an old vintage performance that no one could have expected.

Finally, it can be a stretch, but the presence of Wawrinka makes the draw more interesting and with a story. Stan Wawrinka’s Australian Open matches are all gritty and shot-making and a reminder that class in tennis never goes away, even at age 40.