Stan Wawrinka gets candid about his future after devastating Australian Open 1R exit

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka met with a disappointing result in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open. Italy's Lorenzo Sonego defeated Wawrinka 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 on Tuesday, January 14, to book his place in the second round.

Playing in the main draw in Melbourne for the 19th time, Wawrinka tried to bring out his best on the court, taking the second set to equalize but Sonego, with youth on his side, edged out eventually.

Following the loss, the Swiss sat down with the media on Melbourne Park's interview terrace and, responding to a Sportskeeda question about setting himself any goals before retirement, said:

"I think I achieved way more dreams that I could imagine so I’m happy with everything I achieved. I still want to keep pushing a little bit. Today was a tough loss but we’ll see," the former World No. 3 said.

Wawrinka memorably clinched glory at the Australian Open in 2014 by defeating Rafael Nadal in the final. Seeded eighth, he overcame Andrey Golubev, Alejandro Falla Ramirez, Vasek Pospisil, Tommy Robredo, Novak Djokovic, and Tomas Berdych before downing Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the summit clash to open his Grand Slam account.

While defending his title the following year, he fell to Djokovic in the semifinals. He made it to the last four again in 2017, but eventual champion Roger Federer eliminated him from contention.

---

Stan Wawrinka knocked out in Australian Open 1R for third straight year

Stan Wawrinka in action at the 2025 Australian Open. (Getty)

Stan Wawrinka's loss to Lorenzo Sonego on Tuesday, January 14, marked his third straight loss in the first round of the Australian Open. He entered the main draw as a wildcard and met Sonego for the second time on the ATP Tour, with their head-to-head now tied at 1-1.

In 2024, the Swiss faced Adrian Mannarino, the No. 20 seed from France, and couldn't survive a five-setter. After losing the opening set, he claimed the second and third but Mannarino hung tough to win the match 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Stan Wawrinka suffered a similar fate in 2023. He drew Slovakia's Alex Molcan in the first round and managed to take the opening set in a tiebreak. Molcan, however, fought back to equalize in the second set but Wawrinka restored his leading by dishing out a breadstick in the third.

Molcan then turned the tide in his favor by securing the fourth set in a tiebreak and later won the decider to close the match at 6-7(3), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.