Wawrinka, Murray make early exits in Melbourne

Ten years after claiming his first Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open, Stan Wawrinka has bowed out in the first round after losing a physical five-set battle to 20th seed Adrian Mannarino on Monday.

The 38-year-old led two sets to one but a lack of match conditioning proved costly at the business end of the match, where the match-hardened Frenchman won 12 of the final 15 games of the match to triumph 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Wawrinka finished the 2023 season with an ankle injury that forced his retirement against Luca Van Assche in Metz, an ailment that prevented him from doing a full off-season training block needed to prepare for his 18th Australian Open campaign.

“It was a bit tough at the end. Couldn't really push myself more,” the former World No. 3 said. “I didn't do the work I wanted in the offseason because I got injured in the last tournament. So it was a race a bit to come back here. But I'm quite happy with the 10 days I had here. I had some good practice. Today was a good level in general. I'm just sad with the result, but it is what it is…

“In general, I'm quite positive with where I am right now. Even after the loss, I think there is some good opportunity for me to keep pushing, keep playing some good result, and hopefully I can come back next year.”

💪 @AdrianMannarino powers his way through to R2 after overcoming a stern test from Wawrinka 6-3 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-0.@AustralianOpen | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/S89sA6dsT9

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 15, 2024

Reflecting on his title run at Melbourne Park 10 years ago, the three-time major champion said, “Of course it was amazing, amazing memories 10 years ago, winning your first Grand Slam here in Australia, it was really something special. I had two amazing weeks playing my best tennis, beating Novak, beating Rafa in the final. When you start playing tennis, the dream is to play in Grand Slams, so winning one was something really special.”

Currently No. 56 in the Pepperstone Rankings, Wawrinka has won 568 career matches according to Infosys ATP Stats. 

Fellow veteran Andy Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, also failed to make it through the first round Monday, falling 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to No. 30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Murray was making his 16th appearance at Melbourne Park. He reached the final here in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

Etcheverrry will next face 37-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils, who advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 win over German Yannick Hanfmann. The two-time Australian Open quarter-finalist clubbed 43 winners, including 16 aces.